A Robust Reference Signal Generator for Synchronized Ventricular Assist Devices

作者：Amacher Raffael^*; Ochsner Gregor; Ferreira Antonio; Vandenberghe Stijn; Daners Marianne Schmid

来源：IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 2013, 60(8): 2174-2183.

DOI：10.1109/TBME.2013.2251634

• Hybrid mock circulation
• synchronization
• ventricular assist device (VAD)

Ventricular assist devices (VADs) are blood pumps that offer an option to support the circulation of patients with severe heart failure. Since a failing heart has a remaining pump function, its interaction with the VAD influences the hemodynamics. Ideally, the heart%26apos;s action is taken into account for actuating the device such that the device is synchronized to the natural cardiac cycle. To realize this in practice, a reliable real-time algorithm for the automatic synchronization of the VAD to the heart rate is required. This paper defines the tasks such an algorithm needs to fulfill: the automatic detection of irregular heart beats and the feedback control of the phase shift between the systolic phases of the heart and the assist device. We demonstrate a possible solution to these problems and analyze its performance in two steps. First, the algorithm is tested using the MIT-BIH arrhythmia database. Second, the algorithm is implemented in a controller for a pulsatile and a continuous-flow VAD. These devices are connected to a hybrid mock circulation where three test scenarios are evaluated. The proposed algorithm ensures a reliable synchronization of the VAD to the heart cycle, while being insensitive to irregularities in the heart rate.

• 出版日期2013-8