A new approach to generate arbitrary pulsatile pressure wave forms in mechanical circulatory support systems

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Control Systems Engineering
• Cardiovascular Engineering

Background:

• Reproducing pulsatile hemodynamics in mechanical circulatory systems remains a challenge.
• Rotary blood pumps (RBPs) often generate non-pulsatile flow, impacting physiological function.
• Developing effective control strategies for pulsatile flow in RBPs is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a repetitive control algorithm for accurate pulsatile pressure and flow waveform reproduction in mechanical circulatory systems.
• To assess the algorithm's performance and robustness in a mock circulatory system.
• To advance the capabilities of rotary blood pumps for more physiological blood flow.

Main Methods:

• A repetitive control algorithm was designed based on system modeling.
• The algorithm utilized post-oxygenator pressure as feedback.
• Performance was evaluated in a mock system comprising an oxygenator, resistance, and compliance under various scenarios.

Main Results:

• The proposed repetitive control algorithm successfully reproduced arbitrary pulsatile pressure waveforms with high accuracy.
• The system demonstrated acceptable robustness against model uncertainty and nonlinearities.
• The control strategy proved effective in a simulated post-oxygenator environment.

Conclusions:

• Repetitive control is a viable methodology for achieving pulsatile hemodynamics in mechanical circulatory support.
• The developed algorithm offers a promising solution for enhancing the physiological relevance of rotary blood pumps.
• Further research can explore clinical applications and optimization of this control approach.