Method and system for physiologic control of an implantable blood pump

• US 20050131271A1
• Filed: 01/07/2003
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ReliantHeart Inc.
• Original Assignee: MicroMed Technology, Inc (MicroMed Cardiovascular, Inc.)
• Inventors: Morello, Gino F, Benkowski, Robert J
• Granted Patent: US 8,323,173 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/04 Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/06 Heartbeat rate only
• 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 60/237 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 60/515 Regulation using real-time patient data
• 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

Abstract

A physiologic control method and system for an implantable blood pump includes operating the pump at a predetermined speed and monitoring the patient'"'"'s diastolic pump flow rate. The predetermined speed is varied in response to the diastolic pump flow rate. The pump speed may further be adjusted in response to the patient'"'"'s heart rate. The speed may be increased and decreased in response to corresponding changes in the diastolic pump flow rate, and increased in response to an increase in heart rate.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a blood pump implanted in a patient, comprising:

operating the pump at a predetermined speed;

monitoring the patient'"'"'s diastolic pump flow rate; and

changing the predetermined speed in response to the diastolic pump flow rate.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring the patient'"'"'s heart rate; and

changing the predetermined speed in response to at least one of the diastolic pump flow rate or the heart rate.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein changing the predetermined speed includes increasing the pump speed in response to an increase in the diastolic pump flow rate.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein changing the predetermined speed includes increasing the pump speed in response to an increase in the heart rate.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein changing the predetermined speed includes decreasing the pump speed in response to a decrease in the diastolic pump flow rate.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein changing the predetermined speed includes increasing the pump speed in response to an increase in the diastolic pump flow rate.

7. A pump system, comprising:

a pump; and

a controller having an input for receiving a blood flow rate signal, the controller being programmed to extract a diastolic pump flow rate from the pump blood flow rate signal and provide a control signal to the pump to vary the speed of the pump in response to the diastolic pump flow rate.

8. The pump system of claim 7, further comprising an implantable flow measurement device having an output for providing the flow rate signal.

9. The pump system of claim 7, wherein the controller is further programmed to vary the speed of the pump in response to heart rate changes.

10. The pump system of claim 7, wherein the controller is programmed to increase the speed of the pump in response to an increase in the diastolic pump flow rate.

11. The pump system of claim 7, wherein the controller is programmed to decrease the speed of the pump in response to a decrease in the diastolic pump flow rate.

12. The pump system of claim 9, wherein the controller is programmed to increase the speed of the pump in response to an increase in at least one of the diastolic pump flow rate or the heart rate.

13. The pump system of claim 12, wherein the controller is programmed to decrease the speed of the pump in response to a decrease in the diastolic pump flow rate.