Related Experiment Videos
Control of the artificial heart
G S Allen1, K D Murray, D B Olsen
1Artificial Heart Research Laboratory, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA.
Insights
Controlling an artificial heart (AH) requires dynamic adjustments based on multiple physiological signals. Combining these inputs ensures reliable artificial heart function for total implantation.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cardiovascular Engineering
- Implantable Devices
Background:
- Artificial hearts (AHs) lack native physiologic feedback.
- Current AH control is either passive or dynamic.
- Passive control offers limited response to bodily demands.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore dynamic control strategies for artificial hearts.
- To identify essential parameters for effective AH function.
- To address challenges in achieving permanent, totally implantable artificial hearts.
Main Methods:
- Review of passive and dynamic artificial heart control mechanisms.
- Analysis of metabolic and hemodynamic signals for AH regulation.
- Discussion of controller design incorporating multiple input signals.
Main Results:
- A single signal is insufficient for accurate AH pumping adjustments.
- Dynamic control necessitates sensing and integrating multiple physiologic parameters.
- Reliable and flexible AH function depends on combined input signals.
Conclusions:
- Effective artificial heart control requires dynamic, multi-parameter input.
- Integrating diverse signals into controller design is crucial.
- Advancing permanent, totally implantable artificial hearts hinges on sophisticated control strategies.
Abstract:
The artificial heart (AH) is devoid of physiologic connections to the recipient's native feedback control loops. Control of an AH can be either passive or dynamic. Passive intrinsic control provides limited AH response to physiologic demands. Dynamic control requires the sensing of metabolic and hemodynamic signals and their incorporation into self-adjusting AH function. A single metabolic or hemodynamic parameter cannot provide sufficient data accurately to adjust AH pumping in response to varying blood flow demands. A combination of input control signals is required for reliable and flexible AH function. The selection of appropriate input control parameters and their incorporation into AH controller designs remains a critical step in the achievement of a permanent, totally implantable AH.