Device, method, and system for calibration of a flow meter used in conjunction with a ventricular assist device

• US 8,190,390 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2010
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ReliantHeart Inc.
• Original Assignee: MicroMed Technology, Inc (MicroMed Cardiovascular, Inc.)
• Inventors: Morello, Gino, Lynch, Bryan, Benkowski, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, John H
• Application Number:
  US12/944,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20110093230A1
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 702/45, 702/85, 702/100, 703/11, 73/13.4, 738/613.57, 128/204.18, 210/646, 600/16, 600/17, 600/431, 600/504, 600/505, 604/6.07, 700/286
• US Class Current: 702/100
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3663 Flow rate transducers; Flow integrators
• 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 60/523 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 60/88 Percutaneous cables
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 25/10 of flowmeters

Abstract

A blood flow calibration system 500 including a computer 400 operable to determine and store calibration data for a flow meter 124, a test system 530 operable to simulate blood flow for the flow meter 124, thereby allowing the computer 400 to determine the calibration data, and a programmer 300 operable to transfer the calibration data from the computer 400 to the flow meter 124. The flow meter 124 preferably includes a power management circuit 348a,b operable to detect whether the flow meter 124 is powered. In the event that the flow meter 124 is unpowered, the power management circuit 348a,b is preferably able to supply power to a portion of the flow meter 124 in order to transfer the calibration data thereto.

Claims

1. A blood flow calibration system comprising:

a flow meter having a memory;

a computer operable to determine calibration data for the flow meter; and

a programmer operable to transfer the calibration data from the computer to the memory of the flow meter, wherein the flow meter, computer, and programmer are three separate, connectable devices.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the programmer includes a first communications port operable to communicate the calibration data with the computer and a second communications port operable to communicate the calibration data with the flow meter.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1, further including a power management circuit operable to detect whether the memory is powered.

4. The system as set forth in claim 3, wherein the power management circuit is further operable to supply power to the memory when the flow meter is unpowered.

5. The system as set forth in claim 3, wherein the power management circuit is further operable to isolate power from the flow meter when the memory is powered externally from the flow meter.

6. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the programmer is operable to transfer the calibration data to the memory without an external power source.

7. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the programmer is operable to store the calibration data.

8. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the programmer is operable to write the calibration data to the flow meter and verify the calibration data within the flow meter.

9. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the programmer is further operable to read the calibration data from the flow meter.

10. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the flow meter, computer, and programmer are three separate devices, with the programmer being configured to connect between the flow meter and the computer.

11. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the flow meter is part of a pump controller controlling a pump, and wherein the pump controller is a separate device with respect to the computer.

12. A blood flow calibration system comprising:

a flow system operable to simulate blood flow;

a computer operable to determine calibration data for a flow meter using the flow system; and

a programmer operable to receive the calibration data from the computer for use with the flow meter, wherein the flow meter, computer, and programmer are three separate, connectable devices.

13. The system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the programmer includes a first communications port operable to communicate the calibration data with the computer and a second communications port operable to communicate the calibration data with the flow meter.

14. The system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the programmer is operable to transfer the calibration data without an external power source.

15. The system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the programmer is operable to store the calibration data.

16. The system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the programmer is operable to write the calibration data to the flow meter and verify the calibration data within the flow meter.

17. The system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the programmer is further operable to read the calibration data from the flow meter.

18. The system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the flow meter, computer, and programmer are three separate devices, with the programmer being configured to connect between the flow meter and the computer.

19. The system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the flow meter is part of a pump controller controlling a pump, and wherein the pump controller is a separate device with respect to the computer.

20. A blood flow calibration system comprising:

a flow system operable to simulate blood flow; and

a computer operable to determine calibration data for a flow meter using the flow system, wherein the flow meter is part of a pump controller controlling a pump, and wherein the pump controller is a separate device with respect to the computer.

21. The system as set forth in claim 20, further including a programmer operable to transfer the calibration data from the computer to a memory of the flow meter, wherein the flow meter, computer, and programmer are three separate devices, with the programmer being configured to connect between the flow meter and the computer, and wherein the programmer includes a first communications port operable to communicate the calibration data with the computer and a second communications port operable to communicate the calibration data with the flow meter.