Algorithm of Copulsation Estimation for Counterpulsation using Pressure of VAD Outlet Cannula

Abstract

The ventricular assist device(VAD) helps to reduce the overload against the patient’s native heart(NH). The pulsatile VAD pumps out the ventricular blood to the aorta with pulsatile flow. If the VAD pulsates simultaneously with the NH, the ventricle of the NH could confronts abnormally elevated aortic pressure, and this could deteriorate the ventricle rather than assist to recover it. Thus counterpulsation algorithms to avoid copulsation have been adopted by many VADs, but these methods utilize electrocardiography or arterial pressure signals, which may have difficulties to acquire consistently for a long period. In this study, the copulsation estimation algorithm for the counterpulsation is developed using the VAD outlet pressure signal. The VAD outlet pressure signal is good to maintain for a long time and the sensor part could be integrated to the VAD as a built-in module. From the VAD outlet pressure signal and its pump rate information calculated with Fast Fourier Transform, pulse peaks by the VAD and the NH were extracted and the next copulsation time at which the VAD and the NH would pulsate simultaneously was estimated. This estimation algorithm was implemented by using PC MATLAB software and tested for various pump rate conditions with mock circulation system. For each condition, the copulsation time was estimated successfully. Consequently, the results showed the possibility to use the outlet cannula pressure signal in the copulsation estimation.