JP4391680B2 - Continuous flow artificial heart system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a continuous flow artificial heart system, and more particularly to a continuous flow artificial heart system having an emergency controller.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An artificial heart is an artificial organ that acts as a substitute for the heart. Artificial heart systems can be broadly divided into two types: pulsatile flow and continuous flow.
[0003]
Among these, the pulsatile flow method is a method of delivering a fixed amount of blood for each stroke. On the other hand, the continuous flow method is a method in which blood is continuously delivered by a rotating mechanism. Several types of centrifugal pumps with impeller blades have been developed for continuous flow pumps, but none have been approved as medical devices, and all of them are embedded as a first stage and controlled. The part (controller) is a system that is placed outside the body.
[0004]
This is because when a controller other than the pump is embedded in the body, the battery built in the controller needs to be charged transcutaneously, and it is difficult to downsize the controller.
[0005]
An example of such a centrifugal blood pump device is shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-244377 by the present applicant, and an example of its control method is shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-56812 by the present applicant.
[0006]
The role of this external controller is as follows.
B) The impeller is levitated to an appropriate magnetic levitation position.
B) When a step-out (coupling step-out) occurs between the motor and the impeller, the rotation is stopped once and then restarted.
C) Monitor the condition of the pump and inform it of any abnormalities. The monitor contents are, for example, the temperature in the controller, the motor current, the rotation speed, the impeller position, the magnetic levitation current, and the like.
[0007]
Normally, in the operation of a continuous flow type artificial heart pump, after connecting the controller with a pump embedded in the body, the action of starting rotation, stopping rotation and setting parameters in each mode, for example,
1) If constant rotation speed control is to be performed, setting the rotation speed according to the user,
2) If the motor current is controlled at a constant level, set the current value according to the user.
Need to do.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Therefore, for example, in the controller, due to an initial failure (part failure, soldering failure), in-use failure (so much water that you have been shocked by traffic accidents), etc.
B) If the magnetic levitation drive circuit breaks,
B) If the motor drive circuit is broken,
C) If the part controlling the above two (specifically controlling analog circuit, CPU issuing the control command, digital part of FPGA) is broken,
As described above, when the controller used so far fails and the pump operation becomes abnormal and the controller needs to be replaced, the replacement work needs to be performed quickly.
[0009]
This is because, for example, when the rotation stops, a thrombus is generated, and there is a possibility that the rotation becomes abnormal and the internal impeller collides with the pump housing.
[0010]
Therefore, it is desirable for the emergency controller to start operation quickly after connection with the pump.
[0011]
In view of the above-described conventional problems, an object of the present invention is to replace a portable unit that is carried outside the body by a user in which the pump is implanted, including a controller that controls the pump implanted in the body outside the body. It is an object of the present invention to provide a continuous flow artificial heart system that can quickly shift operation control from a regular controller to an emergency controller.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above object, continuous-flow artificial heart system according to the present invention, in a continuous flow type artificial heart system including a controller for controlling the pump and the pump that is implanted in the body at outside, the controller Based on the operation control information, a transmission unit that transmits detection information of the operation state from the pump to an external computer device, a reception unit that receives operation control information for the pump from the external computer device, and A signal output unit that outputs an operation signal of the pump, and a portable unit that is carried outside the body by a user in which the pump is embedded in the body, and detection information of the operating state of the pump received from the portable unit Calculating the driving control information based on the computer device, and transmitting the calculated driving control information to the portable unit; Wherein the first mobile unit when the controller is operating as a regular controller, when the controller is operating as a separate emergency controller and said normal controller, the first mobile unit in the case where the another second mobile unit, when a failure of the first portable unit, the portable unit controller for controlling the pump is replaced from the first mobile unit to the second mobile unit, the exchange of the mobile unit and a mobile unit exchange control means for controlling to implement without affecting the substantial body of the controller has an operating parameter for controlling the rotation of the pump, the mobile unit exchanging control means, The emergency controller controls the emergency controller to acquire the regular controller operating parameters. Characterized in that it comprises a meter acquisition means.
[0013]
Here, the controller replacement control means is configured to replace the pump during the replacement from the first portable unit when operating as the regular controller to the second portable unit when operating as the emergency controller. Operation maintenance means for maintaining operation is included. Further, the operation maintaining means comprises means for maintaining the operation within the pump when etc. to the pump not connected flickering controller, and / or the second when operating as the emergency controller to the pump And means for operating the emergency controller with preset operation parameters for controlling the rotation of the pump after the portable unit is connected. The operation parameter for controlling the rotation of the pump is stored in the pump corresponding to the user, and the operation parameter acquisition means is the first portable when operating as the regular controller. after exchange from the unit to the second mobile unit when operating as the emergency controller acquires operating parameters stored in the pump.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0015]
<Configuration Example of Continuous Flow Artificial Heart System According to this Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a magnetic levitation pump to which the present embodiment is applied and its control circuit.
[0016]
In FIG. 1, the magnetic levitation pump 30 includes a motor unit 31, a pump unit 40, and a magnetic bearing unit 50. An impeller 42 is provided in the casing 41 of the pump unit 40. The casing 41 is made of a non-magnetic member, and the impeller 42 includes a non-magnetic member 44 having a permanent magnet 43 constituting a non-control type magnetic bearing, and a soft iron member 45 corresponding to a rotor of the control type magnetic bearing. The permanent magnet 43 is divided in the circumferential direction of the impeller 42, and adjacent magnets are magnetized in opposite directions.
[0017]
A rotor 47 supported by a shaft 46 is provided outside the casing 41 so as to face the side of the impeller 42 having the permanent magnet 43. The rotor 47 is driven by the motor 32 to rotate. The rotor 47 is provided with the same number of permanent magnets 48 as the impeller 42 side so as to oppose the permanent magnets 43 of the impeller 42 and to apply an attractive force. On the other hand, the electromagnet 51 and a position (not shown) so as to oppose the attractive force of the permanent magnets 43 and 48 in the casing 41 and hold the impeller 42 at the center of the casing 41 so as to face the side having the soft iron member 45 of the impeller 42. A sensor is provided in the magnetic bearing portion 50.
[0018]
In the magnetic levitation pump 30 configured as described above, the permanent magnet 48 embedded in the rotor 47 supports the driving and radial direction of the impeller 42, and is connected to the permanent magnet 43 provided on the impeller 42. Generate axial suction. A current is passed through the coil of the electromagnet 51 so as to balance this attractive force, and the impeller 42 floats. When the rotor 47 is rotated by the driving force of the motor 31, the permanent magnets 43 and 48 constitute a magnetic coupling, the impeller 42 is rotated, and blood is sent from the injection port to a discharge port (not shown). Since the impeller 42 is isolated from the rotor 47 by the casing 41 and is not subjected to contamination from the electromagnet 51, the blood discharged from the magnetic levitation pump 30 maintains a clean state.
The control circuit 60 includes a CPU circuit 61, a rotation speed control circuit 62, and a magnetic bearing control circuit 63. The rotational speed control circuit 62 receives a command from the CPU circuit 61 and controls the rotational speed of the motor 31, and the magnetic bearing control circuit 63 controls the electromagnet 51 based on a signal from a position sensor (not shown). Further, the control unit 60 is provided with a display 71 for displaying the number of revolutions, a display 72 for displaying the flow rate, and a display 73 for displaying the pressure as required.
[0019]
Signals between the controller and the pump are connected by a cable and a connector 80.
[0020]
Since the relationship between the overall operation of the magnetic levitation pump shown in FIG. 1 and blood circulation is not the subject of the present application, detailed description thereof will be omitted.
[0021]
<Exchanging example 1 to emergency controller of this embodiment>
In general, about 10 or more cables are required to connect the controller for the continuous flow type artificial heart and the pump. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the connector 10 (for example, plug) on the pump side is used. Two detection pins 11 and 12 are prepared. On the other hand, in the connector 20 (receptor) on the controller side, the corresponding pins 21 and 22 are connected to the circuit 23 shown in FIG.
[0022]
By this, without being affected by chattering at the time of connection,
Connected: Low, not connected: High
A signal CNDATA is obtained. This method has the advantage that the number of signals in the pump cable does not change and the number of connector pins is increased by two, so that the thickness of the cable does not change.
[0023]
Since the signal CNDATA is obtained, a rotation start command is output after a few seconds from the falling edge of CNDATA from High to Low using the CPU I / O or the like (rotation can be started within this few seconds) Check), selection of control parameters set in advance (for example, constant rotation speed or constant current, rotation speed or current for each control law, etc.) In the case of a DC motor that is often used, the set value of the rotation speed or current is analog, but can be given by D-A conversion, so that a digital value of about 8 bits can be set. Software can be created to shift to (can be set by value).
[0024]
FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing the timing at the time of replacement with the emergency controller in the present replacement example 1.
[0025]
When the rotation control is stopped and replaced with the emergency controller, the signal CNDATA changes from High to Low, and after a few seconds, the preset rotation speed control signal and the current value control signal are provided to the emergency controller. Resume driving.
[0026]
In this case, the operation parameters can be set by a DIP switch (for example, for control selection) or a variable resistor (for example for setting the rotation speed and current value) prepared on a printed circuit board in the controller.
[0027]
In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which operation parameters are set using a DIP switch or a variable resistor prepared on a printed circuit board in the controller. However, the reliability of the apparatus is increased (so as not to be affected by dust and water). It is preferable to perform non-contact communication using light and electromagnetic waves and set in software rather than hardware.
[0028]
<Exchanging example 2 to emergency controller of this embodiment>
4 and 5 are diagrams illustrating an example in which the controller 60 includes a minimum portable unit and an external personal computer (hereinafter, PC) that transmits and receives data to and from the portable unit by wireless communication. In this example, although not shown, it is preferable to have a configuration in which the portable unit is automatically replaced with an emergency controller.
[0029]
In the present embodiment, sensor detection data is received from a portable unit by wireless communication, control data is calculated, and the calculated control data is transmitted to the portable unit. In this embodiment, the rotational speed is controlled to be substantially constant without changing the rotational speed according to the load fluctuation of the user, and the rotational speed change (flow rate control) according to the load fluctuation is performed by the user or the doctor. Even in the system, the PC performs control according to the load fluctuation in real time, the monitored signal (motor rotation speed conversion voltage, motor current conversion voltage, the flow rate is calculated by these), and the user's load It is also possible to use a system that calculates the optimum rotational speed from a signal indicating the above and gives the set voltage.
[0030]
FIG. 4 shows a configuration example of a system in which the control of the magnetic bearing control circuit 63 is left to the external PC 100. In addition, the broken line part 200 shows the structure of a portable part.
[0031]
Signals from the position sensors 301 to 303 are input from the sensor output circuits 211 to 213 to the multiplexer 220, selected, and converted into digital data by the A / D converter 230. This digital data is transmitted to the external PC 100 by wireless communication (for example, radio waves, infrared rays, etc.) via the transmission / reception unit 240. The external PC 100 calculates and generates control data for the magnetic levitation drivers 271 to 273 based on the received data from the position sensors 301 to 303 and transmits the control data to the transmission / reception unit 240. The control data received by the portable unit 200 is converted into analog data by the D / A converter 250, distributed by the demultiplexer 260, and sent to the magnetic levitation drivers 271 to 273. From each of the magnetic levitation drivers 271 to 273, a monitoring magnetic levitation current is sent to the external PC 100 via the multiplexer 220, the A / D converter 230, and the transmission / reception unit 240 and monitored.
[0032]
Here, the control is transferred to the external PC 100 according to this example, and the process executed by the external PC 100 that calculates and generates control data for the magnetic levitation drivers 271 to 273 from the signals from the position sensors 301 to 303 is shown in FIG. The broken line portion 800 shown in FIG.
[0033]
FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of a system in which the control of the rotation speed control circuit 62 is left to the external PC 100. In addition, the broken line part 400 shows the structure of a portable part.
[0034]
The motor speed conversion voltage and the motor current conversion voltage from one chip represented by the motor control IC & peripheral circuit 440 are selected by the multiplexer 460 and converted into digital data by the A / D converter 470. This digital data is transmitted to the external PC 100 by wireless communication (for example, radio waves, infrared rays, etc.) via the transmission / reception unit 410. The external PC 100 calculates and generates control data (rotation speed setting voltage and rotation ON / OFF signal) to the motor drivers 451 to 453 based on the received data of the motor rotation speed conversion voltage and the motor current conversion voltage. And transmitted to the transceiver 410. The control data received by the portable unit 400 is converted into analog data by the D / A converter 420, distributed by the demultiplexer 430, sent to the motor control IC & peripheral circuit 440, and the generated motor drive signal is It is sent to each motor driver 451-453.
[0035]
A part of the motor control IC & peripheral circuit can be assigned to the external PC, and the function performed by the external PC is not limited to the present embodiment. Here, the process executed by the external PC 100 that calculates and generates control data when the control is transferred to the external PC 100 according to this example is clear from the description of the magnetic bearing control circuit 63, and thus the description is omitted here.
[0036]
According to this embodiment,
1) Miniaturization of the controller to be carried,
2) realization of complex control methods;
Is possible.
[0037]
(Example of communication in this embodiment)
6 and 7 are block diagrams illustrating a configuration example of the communication unit (transmission unit and reception unit) of the present embodiment. Here, an example is shown in which TXD and RTS are used in communications using weak radio waves, particularly EIA-232 signals.
[0038]
First, the transmission unit will be described. The operation parameters are input or calculated by a PC (personal computer) 100 and converted to a TTL level by a transmission interface unit 610. TXD becomes TXDATA and RTS becomes TX-ON-OFF and is inputted to the transmission module unit 620.
[0039]
The transmission module unit 620 selects a 68.1 MHz oscillation signal when TXDATA is High and a 68.3 MHz signal when TXDATA is Low. After the signal is amplified, it is mixed with the frequency generated by the PLL circuit by a DBM (Double Balanced Mixer) and frequency-converted. Finally, the signal is amplified and output from the antenna 630 as a radio wave. The radio wave is output only when the TX-ON-OFF signal is H.
[0040]
Next, the receiving unit will be described. The radio wave input from the antenna 730 is amplified in the receiving module unit 720, and then mixed with the frequency from the PLL in the DBM unit, and converted to an intermediate frequency of 44.2 MHz. This is amplified and then input to the detection circuit and output as RXDATA and CD signals.
[0041]
These signals are level-converted by the reception interface unit 710, output as RXD and DSR of EIA-232, and input to the microcomputer 100 (there may be TTL without level conversion). The operation parameter (for example, 32 bits) data received by the microcomputer 100 is written in the EEPROM, and no data is lost even if the controller power is turned off.
[0042]
<Exchanging example 3 to emergency controller of this embodiment>
In the replacement examples 1 and 2 described above, the pump control is stopped at the time of replacement to the emergency controller, and the pump operation is stopped. However, the control signal to the pump is not changed at the time of replacement to the emergency controller. By providing a circuit for holding the previous signal and a circuit for maintaining the previous operation while the operation is interrupted on the pump side, the continuity of the control can be improved by eliminating the gap in the rotation control of the pump as shown in FIG. It is also possible to maintain. As an example of this case, it is conceivable to move the driver to the pump side and provide a power supply maintenance circuit.
[0043]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the controller for controlling the pump implanted in the body outside the body includes the normal controller by replacing the portable unit carried by the user in which the pump is implanted outside the body . It is possible to provide a continuous flow artificial heart system that can quickly shift the operation control.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a continuous flow artificial heart system in the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of replacement of the continuous flow artificial heart system according to the present embodiment with an emergency controller.
FIG. 3 is a timing chart at the time of replacement in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration for realizing another example of replacement with an emergency controller of the continuous flow artificial heart system according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration for realizing another example of replacement with the emergency controller of the continuous flow artificial heart system according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a transmission unit of the continuous flow artificial heart system according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a receiving unit of the continuous flow artificial heart system according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining processing of the external PC in FIG. 4;

Claims (4)

In a continuous flow artificial heart system having a pump implanted in the body and a controller for controlling the pump outside the body,
The controller is
A transmitter for transmitting operation state detection information from the pump to an external computer device; a receiver for receiving operation control information for the pump from the external computer device; and the pump based on the operation control information. A portable unit that is carried outside the body by a user in which the pump is implanted in the body,
Calculating the operation control information based on the detection information of the operating state of the pump received from the portable unit, and the computer device that transmits the calculated operation control information to the portable unit,
A first portable unit when the controller is operating as a regular controller;
A second portable unit different from the first portable unit when the controller is operating as an emergency controller different from the regular controller;
When the portable unit of the controller that controls the pump is replaced from the first portable unit to the second portable unit when the first portable unit fails, the replacement of the portable unit has a substantial effect on the body. Portable unit replacement control means for controlling to be carried out without ,
The controller has operating parameters for controlling the rotation of the pump;
The continuous flow type artificial heart system, wherein the portable unit replacement control means includes operation parameter acquisition means for controlling the emergency controller to acquire operation parameters of the regular controller . The controller replacement control means maintains the operation of the pump during replacement from the first portable unit when operating as the regular controller to the second portable unit when operating as the emergency controller. continuous flow artificial heart system according to claim 1 Symbol mounting, characterized in that it comprises an operation maintaining means for. The operation maintaining means comprises means for maintaining the operation within the pump when not connected flickering controller etc. to the pump, and / or the second mobile unit at the time of operating as the emergency controller to the pump 3. A continuous flow artificial heart system according to claim 2 , further comprising means for operating said emergency controller with a preset operation parameter for controlling rotation of said pump after connection is established. Operating parameters for controlling the rotation of the pump are stored in the pump corresponding to the user,
The operation parameter acquisition means is stored in the pump after replacement from the first portable unit when operating as the regular controller to the second portable unit when operating as the emergency controller. continuous flow artificial heart system according to claim 1, wherein the obtaining the operating parameters are.

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