Apparatus for controlling heart assist devices

• US 20040059183A1
• Filed: 09/11/2003
• Published: 03/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arrow International, LLC (Teleflex Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Arrow International Investment Corporation (Teleflex Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schreuder, Johannes Jacobus, Jansen, Jozef Reinier Cornelis
• Granted Patent: US 7,169,109 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/17
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/026 Measuring blood flow A61B3/1233, A61B3/1241 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/352 Detecting R peaks, e.g. for synchronising diagnostic apparatus; Estimating R-R interval
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3663 Flow rate transducers; Flow integrators
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/33 Controlling, regulating or measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3303 Using a biosensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/139 inside the aorta, e.g. intra-aortic balloon pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/196 replacing the entire heart, e.g. total artificial hearts [TAH]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/295 Balloon pumps for circulatory assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/515 Regulation using real-time patient data
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/546 of blood flow, e.g. by adapting rotor speed

Abstract

An apparatus for a heart assist device, comprising a processing unit for computing the blood flow rate from the arterial pressure curve and for predicting at every heartbeat the closing time of the heart valve from the curve of the blood flow rate. The processing unit is adapted to deliver a signal for controlling a heart assist device at a point in time, a period ahead in time of the closing time of the heart valve, wherein the mechanical properties of said heart assist device are taken into account in determining said period. The apparatus adapts itself to changes in a patient'"'"'s heart frequency and aortic pressure.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling a heart assist device, comprising a processing unit for computing the blood flow rate from the arterial pressure curve and for predicting at every heartbeat the closing time of the heart valve from the curve of the blood flow rate, wherein the processing unit is adapted to deliver a signal for controlling a heart assist device at a point in time, a period ahead in time of the closing time of the heart valve, wherein the mechanical properties of said heart assist device are taken into account in determining said period.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said heart assist device is an intra-aortic balloon pump having a balloon, wherein said signal initiates the inflation of the balloon.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said heart assist device is an artificial heart, wherein the signal initiates the emptying of the artificial heart.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is adapted to determine said period by determining the maximum of the blood flow rate curve, taking a percentage of said maximum as a threshold value, and comparing the computed blood flow rate with said threshold value to determine said point in time.

5. An apparatus according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the processing unit is arranged for automatically controlling an intra-aortic balloon pump, wherein the deflation of the balloon is initiated on the basis of a derivative from the electrocardiogram with every heartbeat.

6. An apparatus according to claims 1 and 3, characterized in that the apparatus comprises means for automatically controlling an artificial heart, wherein the process of the filling and the emptying of the artificial heart is geared to the process of the filling and the emptying of the human heart, which is still functioning, wherein a derivative from the electrocardiogram is used with every heartbeat to stop the emptying of the artificial heart, wherein the emptying of the artificial heart into the arterial vascular system is initiated in accordance with claims 1 and 3 with every heartbeat, wherein the emptying of the artificial heart is followed by the filling of the artificial heart after a predetermined period of time with every heartbeat, wherein said predetermined period of time is related to the interval times of the preceding heartbeats.

7. A method for controlling a heart assist device, comprising computing the blood flow rate from the arterial pressure curve and predicting at every heartbeat the closing time of the heart valve from the curve of the blood flow rate, wherein a signal for controlling a heart assist device is delivered at a point in time, a period ahead in time of the closing time of the heart valve, wherein the mechanical properties of said heart assist device are taken into account in determining said period.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said heart assist device is an intra-aortic balloon pump having a balloon, wherein said signal initiates the inflation of the balloon.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein said heart assist device is an artificial heart, wherein the signal initiates the emptying of the artificial heart.

10. A method according to claim 7, wherein said period is determined by determining the maximum of the blood flow rate curve, taking a percentage of said maximum as a threshold value, and comparing the computed blood flow rate with said threshold value to determine said point in time.

11. A method according to claims 7 and 8, wherein an intra-aortic balloon pump is controlled automatically, wherein the deflation of the balloon is initiated on the basis of a derivative from the electrocardiogram with every heartbeat.

12. A method according to claims 7 and 9, wherein an artificial heart is controlled automatically, wherein the process of the filling and the emptying of the artificial heart is geared to the process of the filling and the emptying of the human heart, which is still functioning, wherein a derivative from the electrocardiogram is used with every heartbeat to stop the emptying of the artificial heart, wherein the emptying of the artificial heart into the arterial vascular system is initiated in accordance with claims 7 and 9 with every heartbeat, wherein the emptying of the artificial heart is followed by the filling of the artificial heart after a predetermined period of time with every heartbeat, wherein said predetermined period of time is related to the interval times of the preceding heartbeats.