An optimal control algorithm for intra-aortic balloon pumping

An unconstrained univariate optimization method was adapted to control an intra-aortic balloon pump operating under constraints in a time-varying environment. Of the four physiologically motivated constraints, minimum step size and maximum step size of the search affect the rate of convergence of the optimization algorithm. Their values were determined from computer simulations. The other constraint, the time range of allowed balloon deflation times within the cardiac cycle, was determined on the basis of previous experience with the device. The algorithm is implemented in a microprocessor based controller and successfully tested in preliminary dog experiments