Controlling the cardiovascular response under synchronized ventricular assist device support

Abstract

Ventricular assist devices are mechanical blood pumps used to provide circulatory support in patients waiting for a heart transplantation. In many cases, when the support lasts for months it may be advantageous to use a pump with a physiological control system to automatically adjust pump output in response to changes in the cardiovascular system (CVS). In this paper, we present a physiological controller for a pulsatile ventricular assist device (PVAD) that controls the device ejection volume considering the heart beat frequency. A mathematical model of the CVS based on analog electric circuits is used to analyze the cardiovascular response under ventricular assistance. The physiological controller is shown to be able to improve simulated hemodynamic conditions.