Ventricular Assist Device With Integrated Rotor Position Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current non-contact ventricular assist devices suffer from low control accuracy due to communication delays between sensors and motors, leading to imprecise impeller movement and potential damage to blood from contact support methods.
Innovation Solution
A ventricular assist device with an integrated electric motor, stator, rotor, and distance sensor within a housing assembly, where the distance sensor monitors the impeller's position relative to the chamber wall and controls the magnetic force between the stator and rotor to achieve precise impeller suspension and rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If non-contact support (hydraulic levitation or magnetic levitation) is used to avoid blood damage, then blood compatibility is improved, but control accuracy deteriorates due to communication delays between sensor and motor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sensor and motor control into an integrated control unit, eliminating separate communication channels and reducing time delays. The distance sensor directly feeds position data to the motor controller within the same housing, creating a unified control system that maintains both non-contact support benefits and high control accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a feedback mechanism where the distance sensor continuously monitors impeller position and provides real-time data to the motor controller, which adjusts motor output accordingly. This closed-loop feedback acts as an intermediary that compensates for any delays and maintains precise control despite the non-contact support method.
2Ease of operation
If mechanical bearings are used to support the impeller, then control simplicity is improved, but blood compatibility deteriorates due to hemolysis and thrombosis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical bearing system with a magnetic levitation system where the motor itself provides both propulsion and support. The magnetic field suspends the impeller without mechanical contact, eliminating hemolysis and thrombosis while the integrated control maintains operational simplicity through electronic rather than mechanical complexity.
3Device complexity
If the controller is located outside the pressurized inner chamber, then device complexity is reduced, but control accuracy deteriorates due to increased communication time difference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the controller with the motor assembly and places them both outside the pressurized inner chamber. This integration reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining short signal paths between sensor, controller, and motor that preserve control accuracy.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances control accuracy and reduces blood damage by minimizing communication delays, allowing for stable impeller suspension and rotation, improving blood compatibility and pressurization efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The distance sensor is configured to sense a distance value between the impeller and a cavity wall of the pressurized inner chamber
Implementation Method 2
The stator can drive the rotor to suspend and rotate, the impeller can follow the rotor to suspend and rotate
Implementation Method 3
Non-contact support includes hydraulic levitation, magnetic levitation, and other method
Implementation Method 4
The controller can control a magnetic force between the controller and the rotor according to the distance value, so as to control a rotating speed of the impeller and a distance between the impeller and the cavity wall of the pressurized inner chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A ventricular assist device includes a housing assembly with a pressurized inner chamber, an impeller, an electric motor and a distance sensor. The electric motor includes a controller, a stator and a rotor. The stator and the controller are located in the housing assembly, outside of the pressurized inner chamber and are electrically coupled. The impeller and the rotor are located in the pressurized inner chamber and fixedly coupled. The distance sensor is located in the housing assembly, outside of the pressurized inner chamber and electrically coupled to the controller. The distance sensor senses a distance value of the rotor to a cavity wall of the pressurized inner chamber, and further transmits the distance value to the controller. The controller controls a magnetic force between the stator and the rotor according to the distance value, so as to control a suspension and rotation of the rotor.