Control of the Artificial Heart

Abstract

 

The artificial heart (AH) is devoid of physiologic connections to the recipient's native feedback control loops. Control of an AH can be either passive or dynamic. Passive intrinsic control provides limited AH response to physiologic demands. Dynamic control requires the sensing of metabolic and hemodynamic signals and their incorporation into self-adjusting AH function. A single metabolic or hemodynamic parameter cannot provide sufficient data accurately to adjust AH pumping in response to varying blood flow demands. A combination of input control signals is required for reliable and flexible AH function. The selection of appropriate input control parameters and their incorporation into AH controller designs remains a critical step in the achievement of a permanent, totally implantable AH.ASAIO Journal1996;42:932-937.