Preliminary study of physiological control for the undulation pump ventricular assist device

The undulation pump ventricular assist device (UPVAD) is a small implantable ventricular assist device using an undulation pump. The UPVAD can produce pulsatile flow by changing the motor rotation speed of the UPVAD. Because the undulation pump is a volume displacement type pump, the inflow sucking occurs easily. The purpose of this study is to develop a suitable control method for the UPVAD. The UPVAD inflow cannula equipped with an implantable pressure sensor was inserted into the ventricle. Therefore, pressure variation that synchronized with the natural heartbeat and negative pressure spike caused the inflow sucking were observed. By changing the motor rotation speed that responded to the inflow pressure, the UPVAD could synchronize with the natural heartbeat and the UPVAD could generate a co-pulse assist flow. The inflow sucking could be released by reducing the motor rotation speed, if the inflow sucking was detected. The newly developed control method exhibited superior characteristics than existing ones due to high immunity against pressure sensor drift. The assist flow could be increased more than 15% and the inflow sucking occurrence could be decreased with this control method. The UPVAD could generate the suitable assist flow with the developed control method.