SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A CARDIAC ASSISTANCE SYSTEM

Abstract

The invention relates to a system (100) and a method (500) for controlling a cardiac support system (10), comprising a first extracorporeal control device (110), wherein the first control device (110) is or can be connected to the cardiac support system (10) with a wire or a first coil (150) for communication and/or energy transfer, and comprising a second extracorporeal control device (120) which is wirelessly connected to the first control device (110). The invention also relates to a cardiac support system (10) having a control system according to the invention (100).

Claims

1. System (100) for controlling a cardiac support system (10), comprising a first extracorporeal control device (110), wherein the first control device (110) is or can be connected to the cardiac support system (10) with a wire or a first coil (150) for communication and/or energy transfer, and comprising a second extracorporeal control device (120) which is wirelessly connected to the first control device (110) and/or to the cardiac support system (10).

2. System (100) according to claim 1, wherein the second extracorporeal control device (120) is configured as a redundant unit to the first extracorporeal control device (110).

3. System (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first control device (110) is configured as a server and the second control device (120) is configured as a client.

4. System (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first control device (110) and the second control device (120) are structurally identical.

5. System (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system (100) comprises a first energy store (160) for a transfer of energy via the first coil (150) to the cardiac support system (10), wherein the first energy store (160) is preferably, in particular detachably, connected to the first control device (110).

6. System (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system (100) comprises a second energy store (161), which is preferably, in particular detachably, connected to the second control device (120).

7. System (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in the event of an input to the first control device (110) or to the second control device (120) by which said input changes settings in the first or second control device (120), the first control device (110) and the second control device (120) are configured to cause the second control device (120) or the first control device (110) to make the same changes to the settings.

8. System (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and/or the second control device (110, 120) comprise a display (141, 142), in particular a touch-sensitive display (141, 142) for inputting commands.

9. System (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first control device (110) and/or the second control device (120) are configured to output an alarm signal when a minimum distance between the two control devices (110, 120) is exceeded.

10. Cardiac support system (10) comprising a system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims.

11. Method (500) for controlling a cardiac support system (10), wherein the cardiac support system (10) is controlled via a first extracorporeal control device (110) and wherein the first control device (110) or the cardiac support system (10) is connected wirelessly to a second extracorporeal control device (120) in order to control a cardiac support system (10).

Description

[0018] The figures show:

[0019] FIGS. 1 and 2 a design example of the system according to the invention and

[0020] FIG. 3 a flow chart of a design example of the method according to the invention.

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a design example of the system 100 according to the invention. The system 100 comprises a first extracorporeal control device 110 and a second extracorporeal control device 120. Both control devices comprise an interface 111, 121 for wireless communication 20 with one another, for example a Bluetooth® interface 111, 121. The wireless communication takes place via radio communication according to the MedRadio or MICS (Medical Device Radiocommunications Service) specification, for example. The two control devices 110, 120 can also comprise an integrated energy source, for example a battery or an accumulator. This enables the control devices to be energy self-sufficient. The first control device 110 is connected to a coil 150 for inductive energy transfer to a cardiac support system. In addition to the possible integrated energy source, the first control device 110 also comprises a further energy source 160 for supplying energy to the cardiac support system, for example a battery or an accumulator. The further energy source 160 is preferably detachably connected to the first control device 110, for example via a latch or click mechanism. Since the second control device 120 is not physically tied to any device, the second control device 120 is characterized by a high degree of user-friendliness. To display information, the two control devices 110, 120 preferably comprise a display 141, 142, preferably a touch-sensitive display 141, 142, which is also suitable for inputting commands to the control devices 110, 120.

[0022] In this design example, the two control devices 110, 120 are structurally identical and preferably have the same structural design, so that the second control device 120 can take over the function of the first control device if necessary and is thus provided as a redundant unit to the first extracorporeal control device. For this purpose in particular, the second control device 120 can also comprise a further energy source 161 to safeguard the energy supply of the cardiac support system.

[0023] FIG. 2 schematically shows the communication paths 210, 220, 230 between a cardiac support system 10, the first extracorporeal control device 110 and the second extracorporeal control device 120. The first control device 110 is configured to communicate with the cardiac support system 10, either wirelessly, for example via Bluetooth®, or via a driveline. Information about states such as pump data, for example, is exchanged between the first control device 110 and the cardiac support system 10. The first control device 110 and the second control device 120 are furthermore configured to communicate wirelessly with one another. They are in particular configured to transmit changes in the settings and/or additional status information such as the charge states of the energy stores 160, 161 to one another and then adjust. The first control device 110 is preferably set up as a server and the second control device 120 as a client in a network configuration. The cardiac support system 10 can thus be controlled by the second extracorporeal control device 120 via the first extracorporeal control device 110. In a preferred embodiment, the cardiac support system 10 and the second control device 120 can furthermore be configured for wireless communication 230 with one another, which enables direct control of the cardiac support system 10 by the second control device 120. This also has the advantage that information about the cardiac support system 10 can be obtained directly by both control devices 110, 120, and both control devices 110, 120 can control the cardiac support system 10 directly. It is in particular possible for the user or patient to operate the cardiac support system 10 directly using only the second control device 120.

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a design example of the method 500 according to the invention, which can, for example, be carried out using a design example of the system 100 according to the invention as described above. According to the design example 500, the cardiac support system can be controlled via a first extracorporeal control device. The cardiac support system can also be controlled as described above via a second extracorporeal control device which is coupled wirelessly to the first control device or directly via a second extracorporeal control device which is coupled wirelessly to the cardiac support system. If the second control device is wirelessly connected to the first control device, the cardiac support system can be controlled by the second extracorporeal control device via the first extracorporeal control device.