Method of controlling an implantable pump system

• US 6,652,447 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2001
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ReliantHeart Inc.
• Original Assignee: MicroMed Technology, Inc (MicroMed Cardiovascular, Inc.)
• Inventors: Morello, Gino F., Benkowski, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Evanisko, George R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Oropeza, Frances P.
• Application Number:
  US09/777,073
• Publication Number:
  US 20010037093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 600/16, 600/17, 600/18, 623/3.1, 623/3-1-, 623/3--, 604/65
• US Class Current: 600/16
• 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 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 having a first memory segment including a circular buffer and a second memory segment;

collecting operating parameters of the implantable pump;

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

storing the collected parameters in the first memory segment;

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;

transferring a predetermined time period of the stored parameters from the first segment to the second segment upon pump failure; and

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

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the acts of:

providing a data acquisition system including a video display device;

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

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

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the data acquisition system including a memory storage device, the method further comprising the acts of:

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

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

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital memory includes a third memory segment, further comprising the act of transferring the predetermined time period of the stored parameters from the first segment to the third segment upon a subsequent predetermined event.