Physiological Control of Pulsatile and Rotary Pediatric Ventricular Assist Devices

Several control strategies have been proposed to achieve physiological adaptation of ventricular assist devices (VADs). This paper presents physiological control systems for pediatric VADs that were developed in a scientific cooperation between Bioengineering Division of the Heart Institute, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculty of Medicine on the University of São Paulo (InCor–HCFMUSP) and the Electrical Engineering Department at the Federal University of Campina Grande (DEE - UFCG). The pumping principle and mathematical models of two types of pediatric VADs (pulsatile and rotary) are described. The control strategies for the physiological control systems are discussed, and the main achievements and challenges for implementing these control systems are presented.