Implantable pump system

• US 20010037093A1
• Filed: 02/05/2001
• Published: 11/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ReliantHeart Inc.
• Original Assignee: MicroMed Technology, Inc (MicroMed Cardiovascular, Inc.)
• Inventors: Morello, Gino F., Winstrom, William L., Benkowski, Robert J., Lynch, Bryan E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,652,447 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/288.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/148 in line with a blood vessel using resection or like techniques, e.g. permanent endovascular heart assist devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/178 drawing blood from a ventricle and returning the blood to the arterial system via a cannula external to the ventricle, e.g. left or right ventricular assist devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/232 Centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/237 the blood flow through the rotating member having mainly axial components, e.g. axial flow pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/422 the force acting on the blood contacting member being electromagnetic, e.g. using canned motor pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/523 using blood flow data, e.g. from blood flow transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/546 of blood flow, e.g. by adapting rotor speed
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/562 for making blood flow pulsatile in blood pumps that do not intrinsically create pulsatile flow

Abstract

A controller module for an implantable pump system which has a pump motor includes a processor, a motor controller electrically coupled to the processor and adapted to power the pump motor such that the pump motor operates at a desired speed. The motor controller outputs digital representations of the pump motor operating parameters to the processor. A first memory device is coupled to the processor for storing the digital signals representing the pump motor operating parameters. The controller module further includes a user interface. The controller module may be coupled to a data acquisition system, which provides power and exchanges data with the controller module. The controller module may alternately be coupled to a home support system which provides power for the controller module and storage for system components.

Claims

1. A controller module for an implantable pump system including a pump having an electric motor, the controller module comprising:

a processor;

a motor controller electrically coupled to the processor, the motor controller adapted to power the pump motor such that the pump motor operates at a desired speed, the motor controller adapted to output digital representations of pump motor operating parameters to the processor; and

a user interface coupled to the processor.

2. The controller module of

claim 1

further comprising a power source.

3. The controller module of

claim 1

further comprising at least one connector for coupling the controller module to an external power source.

4. The controller module of

claim 1

further comprising a hardware clock and calendar device coupled to the processor.

5. The controller module of

claim 1

further comprising a first memory device coupled to the processor for storing the digital data representing system operating parameters.

6. The controller module of

claim 1

wherein the first memory device comprises an SRAM.

7. The controller module of

claim 1

wherein the first memory device comprises a plurality of memory banks, and wherein at least one of the banks includes a circular buffer for continuously storing real-time pump motor parameters in predefined time increments.

8. The controller module of

claim 7

wherein the plurality of memory banks comprises at least first and second memory banks, first memory bank including the circular buffer, and wherein the processor is programmed to transfer the data from the first memory bank to the second memory bank upon a first predetermined event.

9. The controller module of

claim 8

wherein the plurality of memory banks further comprises a third memory bank, wherein the processor is programmed to transfer the data from the first memory bank to the third memory bank upon any predetermined events subsequent to the first predetermined event.

10. The controller module of

claim 9

wherein the predetermined event comprises a pump restart.

11. The controller module of

claim 1

further comprising a failure detection device adapted to detect a processor failure, the failure detection device operable to decouple the processor from the motor controller in response to the detected processor failure.

12. The controller module of

claim 1

wherein the user interface includes a text display, and wherein the processor is programmed to selectively display data stored in the first memory device.

13. The controller module of

claim 12

further comprising a second memory device coupled to the processor including digital data stored therein, and wherein the processor is programmed to selectively display the data on the text display.

14. The controller module of

claim 1

, wherein:

the motor controller includes a reference voltage output terminal and a speed control voltage input terminal; and

the controller further comprises a pump speed control device adapted to calculate and provide a voltage level to the speed control voltage input terminal as a proportion of the reference voltage to achieve a desired pump speed.

15. An implantable pump system comprising:

an implantable blood pump including a pump motor; and

a controller module adapted to be coupled to the blood pump, the controller module including

a processor;

a motor controller electrically coupled to the processor, the motor controller adapted to power the pump motor such that the pump motor operates at a desired speed, the motor controller adapted to output digital representations of pump motor operating parameters to the processor;

a first memory device coupled to the processor for storing the digital signals representing pump motor operating parameters; and

a user interface.

16. The implantable pump system of

claim 15

wherein the controller module further includes at least one connector coupled to the processor, the implantable pump system further comprising a data acquisition device including:

a primary power supply;

a computer;

a cable having first and second ends, the first end being coupled to the computer, the second end being adapted to be removably coupled to the controller module;

the data acquisition device providing power to the controller through the cable; and

the computer being programmed to exchange data with the controller module processor through the cable.

17. The implantable pump system of

claim 16

further comprising a secondary power supply.

18. The implantable pump system of

claim 16

wherein the connector is further coupled to the first memory device and the computer is programmed to exchange data with the first memory device.

19. The implantable pump system of

claim 16

wherein the connector is further coupled to the motor controller and the computer is further programmed to receive data from the motor controller.

20. The implantable pump system of

claim 16

further comprising an implantable flow sensor, and wherein

the controller module further includes a flow meter adapted to be coupled to the implantable flow sensor;

the connector is further coupled to the flow sensor; and

the computer is further programmed to receive data from the flow sensor.

21. The implantable pump system of

claim 16

further comprising a pressure transducer adapted to be coupled to the computer.

22. The implantable pump system of

claim 16

further comprising a contact microphone adapted to be coupled to the computer.

23. The implantable pump system of

claim 15

where in the controller module further includes first and second connectors each coupled to the processor, the implantable pump system further comprising at least one rechargeable battery and a home support device including:

a power supply;

a battery charger;

a first cable having a first end coupled to the power supply and a second end coupled to the first connector; and

a second cable having a first end coupled to the battery charger and a second end coupled to the second connector.

24. The implantable pump system of

claim 15

, further comprising a device adapted to be worn by a user of the implantable blood pump, the device adapted to have the controller module connected thereto.

25. The implantable pump system of

claim 24

, wherein the device adapted to have the controller module connected thereto comprises a belt.

26. The implantable pump system of

claim 24

, wherein the device adapted to have the controller module connected thereto comprises a vest.

27. A data acquisition device for an implantable pump system including an implantable pump, a controller module coupled to the pump and including a memory for storing data regarding operation of the implantable pump, the data acquisition device comprising:

a primary power supply;

a computer;

the data acquisition device adapted to be removably coupled to the controller module such that the power supply provides power to the controller module when the data acquisition device is coupled to the controller module; and

the computer being programmed to exchange data with the controller module when the data acquisition device is coupled to the controller module.

28. A home support device for an implantable pump system including an implantable pump, a controller module coupled to the pump having a memory for storing data regarding operation of the implantable pump, and a rechargeable battery, the home support device comprising

a power supply;

a battery charger adapted to receive and charge the rechargeable battery; and

a first connector adapted to removably couple the home support device to the controller module such that the power supply provides power to the controller module when the home support device is coupled to the controller module.

29. A method of controlling an implanted pump comprising the acts of:

coupling a controller module to the implanted pump, the controller module including a processor, a display device, a user input device, and a digital memory;

collecting operating parameters of the implantable pump;

displaying the collected parameters on the display device as selected by a user via the input device;

storing the collected parameters in the digital memory; and

displaying the stored parameters on the display device as selected by a user via the input device.

30. The method of

claim 29

wherein the digital memory is divided into a first memory segment including a circular buffer and a second memory segment, wherein the collecting act further comprises storing the collected data in the first memory segment;

the method further comprising the acts of;

continuously updating the stored operating parameters of the implanted pump such that a predetermined time period of the most recent data are stored in the first memory segment; and

transferring a predetermined time period of the stored parameters from the first segment to the second segment upon a predetermined event.

31. The method of

claim 30

wherein the transferring act further comprises the predetermined act being a pump failure.

32. The method of

claim 30

further comprising the acts of:

providing a data acquisition system including a video display device;

transferring the collected pump parameters from the controller module to the data acquisition system; and

displaying the pump parameters on the data acquisition system video display device.

33. The method of

claim 32

further comprising the data acquisition system including a memory storage device, the method further comprising the acts of:

transferring the pump parameters stored in the controller module first memory segment to the data acquisition system memory storage device; and

displaying the pump parameters from the data acquisition system storage device on the video display device.

34. The method of

claim 29

wherein the controller module further includes a flow meter coupled to an implanted flow sensor, the method further comprising the acts of:

collecting data from the flow meter;

displaying the collected flow data on the display device as selected by a user via the input device;

storing the collected flow data in the digital memory; and

displaying the stored flow data on the display device as selected by a user via the input device.

35. The method of

claim 34

further comprising the acts of:

providing a data acquisition system including a video display device;

transferring the collected flow data from the flow sensor to the data acquisition system; and

displaying the flow data on the data acquisition system video display device.

36. The method of

claim 35

further comprising the data acquisition system including a memory storage device, the method further comprising the acts of

transferring the flow data stored in the controller module digital memory to the data acquisition system memory storage device;

and

displaying the pump parameters from the data acquisition system storage device on the video display device.

37. A support device for a person in which a blood pump is implanted, the device comprising:

a first holder adapted to connect a control module for the implantable pump to the support device; and

a second holder adapted to connect a battery for powering the implantable pump and the control module to the device.

38. The support system of

claim 37

, further comprising a belt adapted to be worn about the person, wherein the first and second holders are situated on the belt.

39. The support system of

claim 37

, further comprising a vest adapted to be worn by the person, wherein the first and second holders comprise first and second pockets in the vest.

40. The support system of

claim 37

, further comprising at least one cable extending between the first and second holders, the cable adapted to couple the battery to the control module.

41. The support system of

claim 40

, further comprising a connector situated within the second holder adapted to couple the battery to the cable.