A blood pump system is implantable in a patient for ventricular support. A pumping chamber has an inlet for receiving blood from a ventricle of the patient. An impeller is received in the pumping chamber. A motor is coupled to the impeller for driving rotation of the impeller. A motor controller is provided for tracking systolic and diastolic phases of a cardiac cycle of the patient and supplying a variable voltage signal to the motor in a variable speed mode to produce a variable impeller speed linked to the cardiac cycle. The impeller speed comprises a ramping up to an elevated speed during the diastolic phase in order to reduce a load on the ventricle at the beginning of the systolic phase.

A control system for a cardiac assist device includes a sensor implantable in the body at the heart or at an implanted pump of the cardiac assist device, the sensor being for detecting motion of the pump within the body and hence being for monitoring movement of the pump, where the control system is arranged to, in use: receive signals from the sensor, the signals providing information on the movement of the pump; and to process the signals to monitor the pump speed and/or to identify pump malfunction and/or cardiac assist treatment complications.

A control system for a cardiac assist device includes a sensor implantable in the body at the heart or at an implanted pump of the cardiac assist device, the sensor being for detecting motion of the pump within the body and hence being for monitoring movement of the pump, where the control system is arranged to, in use: receive signals from the sensor, the signals providing information on the movement of the pump; and to process the signals to monitor the pump speed and/or to identify pump malfunction and/or cardiac assist treatment complications.

A method of detecting hypertension in a patient having an implantable blood pump, the method includes operating the implantable blood pump at a first pump set speed during a first period of time. A first flow rate minimum during a cardiac cycle of the patient is measured. during the first period of time. The first pump set speed is reduced by at least 200 rpm during a second period of time after the first period of time to a second pump set speed, the second period of time being less than the first period of time. A second flow rate minimum is measured during a cardiac cycle during the second period of time. If the second flow rate minimum decreases during the second period of time at the second pump set speed by more than a predetermined amount, an alert is generated indicating a presence of hypertension.

A method of detecting hypertension in a patient having an implantable blood pump, the method includes operating the implantable blood pump at a first pump set speed during a first period of time. A first flow rate minimum during a cardiac cycle of the patient is measured. during the first period of time. The first pump set speed is reduced by at least 200 rpm during a second period of time after the first period of time to a second pump set speed, the second period of time being less than the first period of time. A second flow rate minimum is measured during a cardiac cycle during the second period of time. If the second flow rate minimum decreases during the second period of time at the second pump set speed by more than a predetermined amount, an alert is generated indicating a presence of hypertension.

The invention concerns a control device for controlling a blood flow of an intravascular blood pump for percutaneous insertion into a patient's blood vessel, the blood pump comprising a pump unit with a drive unit for driving the pump unit and configured to convey blood from a blood flow inlet towards a blood flow outlet, wherein the control device is configured to operate the blood pump in a selectable zero-flow control mode, wherein a blood flow command signal is selected, and the control device comprises a first controller and a second controller, wherein the first controller is configured to control the blood flow by adjusting a speed command signal for the drive unit, and the second controller is configured to control a drive speed of the drive unit.

The invention concerns a control device for controlling a blood flow of an intravascular blood pump for percutaneous insertion into a patient's blood vessel, the blood pump comprising a pump unit with a drive unit for driving the pump unit and configured to convey blood from a blood flow inlet towards a blood flow outlet, wherein the control device is configured to operate the blood pump in a selectable zero-flow control mode, wherein a blood flow command signal is selected, and the control device comprises a first controller and a second controller, wherein the first controller is configured to control the blood flow by adjusting a speed command signal for the drive unit, and the second controller is configured to control a drive speed of the drive unit.

Mechanical circulatory supports configured to operate in series with the native heart are disclosed. In an embodiment, a centrifugal pump is used. In an embodiment, inlet and outlet ports are connected into the aorta and blood flow is diverted through a lumen and a centrifugal pump between the inlet and outlet ports. The supports may create a pressure rise between about 40-80 mmHg, and maintain a flow rate of about 5 L/min. The support may be configured to be inserted in a collinear manner with the descending aorta. The support may be optimized to replicate naturally occurring vortex formation within the aorta. Diffusers of different dimensions and configurations, such as helical configuration, and/or the orientation of installation may be used to optimize vortex formation. The support may use an impeller which is electromagnetically suspended, stabilized, and rotated to pump blood.

A ventricular assist device includes a stent for placement within a cardiac artery and arranged for placement, the stent arranged to have an open configuration defining a flow path, a rotor sized to fit within the stent and arranged for percutaneous placement the flow path, the rotor including a surface disposed about a central portion and angled with respect to the flow path and having a first plurality of magnets. A collar is sized for placement about the cardiac artery and includes a stator. A power source is coupled to the stator, and the stator and the rotor are arranged to rotate the rotor about an axis. A timing control module controls a rotational speed of the rotor. Accordingly, the surface of the rotor is arranged to move blood along the flow path in response to rotation of the rotor.

Methods are provided for controlling the speed of a pump based on a valve state index and/or for deriving a valve state from time-series signal representing a pressure difference or a flow rate. The methods may be employed in blood pump systems or in blood pump control systems.