Implantable Heart Pump Controller

• US 20140275727A1
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Washington, Yale University
• Original Assignee: University of Washington, Yale University
• Inventors: Bonde, Pramod, Asgari, Siavash, Smith, Joshua Reynolds, Waters, Ben
• Granted Patent: US 9,919,088 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/17
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3507 with implanted devices, e.g. external control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8243 by induction
• 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 60/515 Regulation using real-time patient data
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/538 Regulation using real-time blood pump operational parameter data, e.g. motor current

Abstract

The present invention provides devices, systems, and methods for control of ventricular assist devices. The invention includes an implantable controller that is operatively programmed to direct physiological flow through a ventricular assist device that is substantially synchronized to the cardiac cycle of the subject. The implantable controller is also communicatively connected to an external control unit, such that the implantable controller can transmit data to the external control unit, and instructions can be sent from the external control unit to the implantable controller.

Claims

1. An implantable ventricular assist device controller, comprising at least one processing unit, an input device and an output device, wherein the controller is operatively programmed to direct physiological flow through a ventricular assist device that is substantially synchronizable to a cardiac cycle of the subject in whom the ventricular assist device is implantable.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to direct continuous flow.

3. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to direct pulsatile flow.

4. The controller of claim 1, further comprising at least one electrode for receiving an EKG signal from the subject.

5. The controller of claim 4, wherein the controller is programmed to change the speed of the ventricular assist device based on the received EKG signal.

6. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to change the speed of the ventricular assist device based on a simulated EKG signal.

7. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to increase the speed of the ventricular assist device during a systole state in the heart of the subject.

8. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to decrease the speed of the ventricular assist device during a systole state in the heart of the subject.

9. The controller of claim 1, further comprising a receiver resonator for wireless energy transfer.

10. A system for controlling a ventricular assist device implanted in a subject, comprising;

a ventricular assist device;

an implantable controller operatively connected to the ventricular assist device, wherein the controller is programmed to direct physiological flow through the ventricular assist device that is substantially synchronizable to a cardiac cycle of the subject in whom the ventricular assist device is implantable; and

an external control unit that is wirelessly connected to the implantable controller;

wherein the external control unit receives functional data from the implantable controller and sends instructional data to the implantable controller for directing functionality of the ventricular assist device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the implantable controller is programmed to direct continuous flow through the ventricular assist device.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the implantable controller is programmed to direct pulsatile flow through the ventricular assist device.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising at least one electrode for receiving an EKG signal from the subject.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the implantable controller is programmed to change the speed of the ventricular assist device based on the received EKG signal.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the implantable controller is programmed to change the speed of the ventricular assist device based on a simulated EKG signal.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the implantable controller is programmed to increase the speed of the ventricular assist device during a systole state in the heart of the subject.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the implantable controller is programmed to decrease the speed of the ventricular assist device during a systole state in the heart of the subject.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the implantable controller further comprises a receiver resonator for wireless energy transfer to the implantable controller.

19. A method of controlling a ventricular assist device implanted in a subject, comprising;

operatively connecting an implantable controller to a ventricular assist device implanted in a subject; and

synchronizing physiological flow through the ventricular assist device to a cardiac cycle of the subject via the controller.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising changing the speed of the ventricular assist device based on at least one physiological signal measured in the subject.