Patient Adaptive Feedback Controllers for Heart Assist Devices
 

Funded by the National Science Foundation

Collaborators

 

Professor Marwan A. Simaan (PI) - Electrical Engineering (UCF)

Professor James F. Antaki - BioEngineering (CMU)

Professor Robert L. Kormos – Surgery (Pitt)

 

 

 

Heart Patient with an LVAD

Streamliner Axial Flow Blood Pump with Magnetic

Bearings (Univ. of Pittsburgh)

Pediatric LVAD

Diagram of an LVAD in the Cardiovascular System

 

Combined Model of Left Ventricle and Rotary Pump

 

image013

Rotary Pump Connected to Heart

 

 

         

Project Summary

 

Heart transplant candidates often wait long periods (300 days or more on the average) before a suitable donor heart becomes available, and many of these candidate die while awaiting heart transplantation. Consequently, the medical community has been placing increased emphasis on the use of mechanical devices that can substitute for, or enhance, the function of the natural heart.  A Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) is such a device.  This device if often used as a bridge to mechanically support a patient while awaiting heart transplantation, or while their natural heart recovers.  But the ultimate use of this device is as a long-term “cure” for heart failure.  In either case, the goal of a VAD is to provide the patient with as close to a normal lifestyle as possible.  The goal for all concerned is to allow patients to return home and/or to the workforce.

 

An important challenge facing the increased use of VADs is the development of an appropriate feedback controller for these devices.  The latest generation VADs are build using turbo-dynamic pumps, which requires a controller that can adjust the speed of the rotor (pump impeller) to meet the circulatory demand of the patient.  Therefore, in addition to being robust and reliable, a VAD controller should be able to adapt to the daily activities and the physiological changes of the patient.  In this project we propose to investigate the theoretical and fundamental issues associated with the development of such a controller.  More specifically, we will continue our ongoing work on the development of a generalized model of a rotary blood pump which, when coupled to existing models of the human cardiovascular systems, will serve as a simulation model for further development; and we will develop a robust optimal feedback control algorithm that provides the flexibility needed to incorporate various sensor inputs as available. The principal functions of this feedback controller will be: (1) to determine and maintain appropriate cardiac output, subject to constraints imposed by the device and the patient’s condition including avoiding ventricular suction; (2) to identify system variables and parameters to monitor the patient's condition, indicating when the patient's cardiovascular status is improving or deteriorating and detecting component failures; (3) to recognize different operating conditions and data environments, responding to changes in the signals available for measurement from the patient and the assist device; (4) to monitor the control strategy (algorithm) itself to avoid uncontrollable situations and inappropriate or dangerous control actions; and (5) to provide a fail-safe mode of operation by entering a preset open-loop operating mode when a hardware or algorithmic failure occurs.

 

The primary intellectual merit of the proposed research will be to increase our understanding of fundamental technical issues related to the control of non-conventional complex systems, such as the VADs, which involve both electromechanical as well as physiological components. A truly interdisciplinary approach, with expertise coming from the electrical, mechanical, and biomedical engineering fields as well as the medical profession, is needed to develop the mathematical framework needed to be able to effectively control such systems. 

  

The broader impact of the proposed research will primarily be in improving the quality of life for cardiovascular patients awaiting heart transplantation.  Any improvement in the existing technology of the ventricular assist devices will have a tremendous effect on the physical condition and ultimately the recovery of patients suffering from congestive heart failure.   It is hoped that this study, leading to the development of a patient adaptive feedback controller, will provide an opportunity for these patients to leave the hospital, return home, and re-enter the workforce while awaiting for a donor heart.     Another important impact of this project is in training engineering graduate (and a few undergraduate) students from the electrical, mechanical, and biomedical, departments to work together as a team in this highly interdisciplinary field.  This project will provide an opportunity for two graduate students to apply what they have learned in the control and signal processing courses to a realistic (but not very well defined mathematically) problem that has a tremendous societal impact. 

 

 

Related Recent Publications

 

M. A. Simaan, A. Ferreira, S. Chen, J.F. Antaki, and D.G. Galati, “A Dynamical State Space Representation and Performance Analysis of a Feedback-Controlled Rotary Left Ventricular Assist Device,” IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology, (to appear in 2008).

 

M.A. Simaan, “Modeling and Control of the Heart Left Ventricle Supported with a Rotary Assist Device,” Proc. of the 47th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, Cancun, Mexico, December 9-12, 2008 (to appear)

 

M. A. Simaan and J. F. Antaki, Progress with Extremum-Seeking Feedback Controller for a Rotary Blood Pump” Abstracts of the 54th Conference of the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs (ASAIO), San Francisco, CA, June 19 - 21, 2008.

 

Y-C. Yu, M. A. Simaan, S. Mushi, and N.V. Zorn, “Performance Prediction Of A Percutaneous Ventricular Assist System Using Nonlinear Circuit Analysis Techniques,” IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, Vol. 55, No. 2, 2008, pp. 419-429

 

Y-C Yu, M. A. Simaan, N. V. Zorn, and S. Mushi, “A Nonlinear Model for Flow Estimation and Control in a Percutaneous Heart Assist System,” Proc. of the 2007 American Control Conference, New York, NY, July 11-13, 2007, pp. 2018-2023.

 

S. Chen, A. Ferreira, M.A. Simaan, J. R. Boston, and J. F. Antaki, “Feedback Control of an LVAD Supporting a Failing Cardiovascular System Regulated by the Baroreflex,” Proc. of the 45th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, San Diego, CA, December 13-15, 2006, pp.655-660.

 

A. Ferreira, S. Chen, M.A. Simaan, J. R. Boston, and J. F. Antaki, “A Discriminant-Analysis-Based Suction Detection System for Rotary Blood Pumps”, Proc. of the 28th IEEE Annual International Conference of Engineering in Medicine and Biology , August 30 - September 3, 2006 in New York, NY, 2006, pp. 5382-5385

 

P.D. Wearden, V.O. Morell, B.B. Keller, S.A. Webber, H.S. Borovetz, S. F. Badylak, J.R. Boston, R.L. Kormos, M.V. Kameneva, M.A. Simaan, T.A. Snyder, H. Tsukui, W.R. Wagner, J.F. Antaki, C. Diao, S. Vandenberghe, J, Gardiner, C.M. Li, D. Noh, D. Paden, B. Paden, J. Wu, G.B. Bearnson, G. Jacobs, J. Kirk, P. Khanwilkar, J.W. Long, S. Miles, J.A. Hawkins, P.C. Kouretas, and R.E. Shaddy, “The PediaFlowTM Pediatric Ventricular Assist Device,” Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery: Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Annual, Vol. 9, No. 1, 2006, pp. 92-98

 

S. Chen, A. Ferreira, M. A. Simaan, and J. F. Antaki, “A Mathematical Model of a Cardiovascular System Regulated by the Baroreflex,” Proc. of the 2006 American Control Conference, Minneapolis, MN, June 14-17, 2006, pp. 701-706.

 

H.S. Borovetz, S. Badylak, J.R. Boston, C. Johnson, R. Kormos, M.V. Kameneva, M. A. Simaan, T.A. Snyder, H. Tsukui, W. R. Wagner, J. Woolley, J. Antaki, C. Diao, S. Vandenberghe, B. Keller, V. Morell, P. Wearden, S. Webber, J. Gardiner, C.M. Li, D. Paden, B. Paden, S. Snyder, J. Wu, G. Bearnson, J.A. Hawkins, G. Jacobs, J. Kirk, P. Khanwilkar, P. C. Kouretas, J. Long, and R.E. Shaddy, "Towards the Development of a Pediatric Ventricular Assist Device," Cell Transplantation, Vol. 15, pp. S69-S74, 2006

 

A. Ferreira, M.  A. Simaan, J.R. Boston, and J. F. Antaki, “Frequency and Time-Frequency Based Indices for Suction Detection in Rotary Blood Pumps,” Proc. of the 2006 IEEE International  Conference on Acoustics Speech and Signal Processing, Toulouse, France, May 14-19, 2006, Vol. II, pp.1064-1067

 

K-W. Gwak, M. Ricci, S. Snyder, B.E. Paden, J.R. Boston, M. A. Simaan, and J.F. Antaki, "In Vitro Evaluation of Multiobjective Hemodynamic Control of a Heart-Assist Pump,” The American Society for Artificial Internal Organs(ASAIO) Journal, Vol. 51, No. 4, 2005, pp. 329-335.

 

A. Ferreira, M.  A. Simaan, J.R. Boston, and J. F. Antaki, “A Nonlinear State Space Model of a Combined Cardiovascular System and a Rotary Pump,” Proc. of the 44th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control and European Control Conference, Seville, Spain, Dec. 12-15, 2005, pp. 897-902

 

A. Ferreira, S. Chen, D.G. Galati, M.  A. Simaan, and J. F. Antaki, “A Dynamical State Space Representation of a Feedback Controlled Rotary Left Ventricular Assist Device,” Proc. of the 2005 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress, Orlando, FL, November 5-11, 2005, Paper IMECE2005-80973

 

Y-C Yu, M. A. Simaan, N. V. Zorn, and S. Mushi, “Model-based Prediction of a Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Device Performance,” Proc. of the 2005 American Control Conference, Portland, OR, June 8-10, 2005, pp. 3835-3840.

 

S. Chen, J. F. Antaki, M.  A. Simaan, and J. R. Boston, “Physiological Control of Left ventricular Assist Devices Based on Gradient of Flow,” Proc. of the 2005 American Control Conference, Portland, OR, June 8-10, 2005, pp. 3829-3834.

 

K-W Gwak, M. Ricci, S. Snyder, B. E. Paden, J. R. Boston, M. A. Simaan, and J.F. Antaki, “In-Vitro Evaluation of Multi-Objective Hemodynamic Control of a Heart-Assist Pump,” The American Society for Artificial Internal Organs (ASAIO) Journal, Vol. 51, No. 4, 2005, pp. 329-335.

 

J. Wu, J.F. Antaki, H.S. Borovetz, J. R. Boston, C. Diao, J.A. Hawkins, J. Gardiner, G. Jacobs, M.V. Kameneva, B.B. Keller, P. Khanwilkar, J. Kirk, R. L. Kormos, J. W. Long, C.M. Li, S. Miles, V. Morell, E. Prem, B.E. Paden, D. Paden, R. E. Shaddy, M. A. Simaan, T. A. Snyder, H. Tsukui, S. Vandeberghe, W. R. Wagner, and S. A. Webber, , “Progress with Pediaflow Maglev Pump for Infants and Small Childern: Form to Function,” Abstracts of the 51th Anniversary Conference of the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs, Washington, DC, June 7-9, 2005.

 

H. Borovetz, S. Badylak, J.R. Boston, R. Kormos, M. Kameneva, M. A. Simaan, T. Snyder, H. Tsukui, W. Wagner, J.F. Antaki, C. Diao, S. Vandeberghe, B. Keller, V. Morell, S. Weber, J. Gardiner, C.M. Li, D. Paden, B. Paden, J. Wu, G. Bearneson, J. Hawkins, G. Jacobs, J. Kirk, P. Khanwilkar, J. Long, S. Miles, and R. Shaddy, "The Pediatric ventricular Assist Device (Pediaflow)," Abstracts of the First International Conference on Pediatric Mechanical Circulatory Support Systems and Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Perfusion, Hershey, PA, May 19-22, 2005, p. 48

B. Uber, L.C. Santelices, B. Keller, S. Webber, V. Morell, R.L. Kormos, H.S. Borovetz, M.A. Simaan and J.F, Antaki, "Systematic Decision Support for Optimal Management of PVAD Patients”" Abstracts of the First International Conference on Pediatric Mechanical Circulatory Support Systems and Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Perfusion, Hershey, PA, May 19-22, 2005, p. 68

S. Mushi, Y-C. Yu, M. A Simaan, and N. V. Zorn, “Flow Rate Prediction of a Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Device using Nonlinear Circuit Analysis,” Proc. of the 31st Annual NorthEast BioEngineering Conference, Hoboken, NJ, April 2-3, 2005, pp. 61-62

 

K-W Gwak, M. Ricci, S. Snyder, B. E. Paden, J. R. Boston, M. A. Simaan, and J. F. Antaki, “In-Vitro Evaluation of Multi-Objective Hemodynamic Control of a Heart-Assist Pump,” Proc. of the 43rd IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, Paradise Island, Bahamas, Dec. 14-17, 2004, pp. 1069-1074.

 

M. Y. Tabaksblat, A. Z. Hunsberger, M. A. Simaan, R.L. Kormos, J. Gorcsan, S. G. Shroff, and J. F. Antaki, “Towards the Development of a Computer Simulator for Left Ventricular Recovery” Abstracts of the 50th Anniversary Conference of the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs, Washington, DC, June 17-19, 2004, ASIAO Journal, Vol. 50, No. 2, March-April 2004, p. 139.

 

L. C. Santelices, J. F. Antaki, M. A. Dew, M. B. Holm, M. A. Mathier, M. A. Simaan, K. Desai, and R. L. Kormos, “Mobile Decision Support System For Management of LVAD Patients” Abstracts of the 50th Anniversary Conference of the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs, Washington, DC, June 17-19, 2004, ASIAO Journal, Vol. 50, No. 2, March-April 2004, p. 121.

 

J. R. Boston, J. F. Antaki, and M. A. Simaan, "Hierarchical Control for Hearts Assist Devices," IEEE Robotics and Automation Magazine, Vol. 10, No.1, March 2003, pp. 54-64.

 

J. F. Antaki, J. R. Boston and M. A. Simaan, “Control of Heart Assist Devices,” Proc. of the IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, Maui, HI, December 9-12, 2003, pp. 4084-4089.

 

L. A. Baloa, J. R. Boston, M. A. Simaan, and J. F. Antaki, “Performance of an Extended Certainty Weighted Detection Model,” IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics, Part A: Systems and Humans, Vol. 33, No. 1, January 2003, pp. 12-22.

 

Y-C. Yu and M. A. Simaan, “Performance Prediction of a Percutaneous Ventricular Assist System – A Nonlinear Circuit Analysis,” Proc. of the 28th Annual Northeast Bioengineering Conference, Philadelphia, PA, April 20-21, 2002, pp.19-20.

 

Y-C. Yu, J. R. Boston, M. A. Simaan, and J. F. Antaki, "Minimally Invasive Estimation of Systemic Vascular Parameters for Artificial Heart Control,” Control Engineering Practice, Vol. 10, March 2002, pp. 277-285.

 

L. Baloa, J. R. Boston, M. A. Simaan, and J. F. Antaki,  “A Certainty-Weighted Decision Model for the Detection of Suction in VADs,” Proc. of the IEEE Conference on Control Applications and International Symposium on Intelligent Control, Mexico City, Mexico, September 5-7, 2001, pp. 696-701.

 

J. F. Antaki, Z. Wu, D. Liu, M. A. Simaan, and J. R. Boston, “A Multi-Objective Control Algorithm for Turbodynamic Blood Pumps,” Abstracts of the 9th Congress of the International Society for Rotary Blood Pumps, Seattle, Washington, August 17-20, 2001, pp A6.

 

Y-C. Yu, J.R. Boston, M. A. Simaan, and J.F. Antaki, "Minimally Invasive Estimation of Systemic Vascular Parameters,” Annals of Biomedical Engineering, Vol. 29, No. 7, July 2001, pp. 595-606.

 

Y-C. Yu, J. R. Boston, M. A. Simaan, P. J. Miller, and J. F. Antaki, "Pressure-Volume Relationship of a Pulsatile Blood Pump for Ventricular Assist Device Development,” The American Society for Artificial Internal Organs Journal, Vol. 47, No. 3, May-June 2001, pp. 293-301

 

Y-C. Yu, J. R. Boston, M. A. Simaan, and J. F. Antaki, “Minimally Invasive Identification of Ventricular Recovery Index for Weaning Patients from Artificial Heart Support,” Proc. of the IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, Sydney, Australia, December 12-15, 2000, pp. 1799-1803.

 

D. Liu, J. R. Boston, M. A. Simaan, and J. F. Antaki,  “Multi-Objective Optimal Control of a Heart Assist Device,” Proc. of the IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, Sydney, Australia, December 12-15, 2000, 4857-4858.

 

J. R. Boston, J. F. Antaki, and M. Simaan, "Hierarchical Control for Artificial Hearts," Proc. of the IEEE International Conference on Bio-Informatics and Biomedical Engineering, Arlington, VA, November 8-10, 2000, pp. 376-383.

 

J. R. Boston, L. Baloa, Dehou Liu, M. A. Simaan, S. Choi, and J. F. Antaki,  “Combination of Data Approaches to Heuristic Control and Fault Detection,” Proc. of the IEEE Conference on Control Applications and International Symposium on Computer-Aided Control Systems Design, Anchorage, AK, September 25-27, 2000, pp. 98-103

 

Y-C. Yu, J. R. Boston, M. A. Simaan, P.J. Miller, and J.F. Antaki, "Modeling and Simulation of a Blood Pump for the Development of a Left Ventricular Assist System Controller,” Kybernetika , Vol. 35, No. 6, October 1999, pp. 651-664.

 

Y-C. Yu, J. R. Boston, M. A. Simaan, and J. F. Antaki, "Estimation of Systemic Vascular Bed Parameters for Artificial Heart Control," IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, Vol. 43, No. 6, June 1998, pp. 765-778.