Identifying Physiologically Significant Pumping State Transitions in Implantable Rotary Blood Pumps Used as Left Ventricular Assist Devices: An In-Vivo Study

Abstract

The VentrAssist implantable rotary blood pump (IRBP) is a centrifugal pump that uses a hydrodynamic bearing to support its impeller. The pump is to be used as a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Varying pump speed can control the degree of left ventricular assistance. By increasing impeller speed, it is possible to transition from the normal physiological state of ventricular ejection (VE) to a state where the aortic valve remains closed (AC) throughout the cardiac cycle. Using the non-invasive parameter of instantaneous impeller speed in an ovine experimental model (N=3), we investigated state transitions. The cardiovascular system of the animal was perturbed by pharmacological intervention or by exsanguination. A total of six pump speed set point changes that caused physiological state transitions (VE to AC) were examined. A state transition index (STI) derived originally from data obtained in an in-vitro) mock loop setup was found to be directly applicable in the in-vivo studies and showed statistically significant (p<O.0005) reliability in differentiating between no change in state and change in state. These data indicate that the STI may be a valuable mechanism to in optimal LVAD control.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 25, 2001
Accession Number
ADA409930

Entities

People

  • J. C. Woodard
  • M. L. Wilson
  • N. H. Lovell
  • P. J. Ayre
  • R. W. Morris

Organizations

  • University of New South Wales

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Arteries
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Blood
  • Blood Flow
  • Cardiovascular System
  • Centrifugal Pumps
  • Data Sets
  • Engineering
  • Flow Rate
  • Frequency Domain
  • Health Services
  • Heart
  • Heart Valves
  • Pumping
  • Pumps
  • Ventricles

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Control Systems Engineering.
  • Electrical Engineering