A Robust Physiologically Dynamic Patient-Specific Controller for a Total Artificial Heart

Purpose and goal: 1) A robust control system for the Realheart TAH that is ready for clinical use: nearly completed 2) A versatile hybrid mock loop for the cardiovascular device ecosystem: completed Expected results and effects:

The hybrid mock loop was successfully completed and enabled not only testing and refinement towards a more robust clinical Realheart TAH controller, but also provided positive effects for university education, new academic research collaborations, increased awareness of Sweden in the heart pump field through a global multidisciplinary university student Hearthackathon challenge, and influence on regulators through a new study that FDA has launched to evaluate hybrid simulator use in development of safe heart pumps.

Approach and implementation:

Initially recruitment was difficult for KTH. Later, Realheart experienced delays in the controller development and needed to add more consultancy resources to resolve these. Overall the project achieved almost all goals, and the Realheart TAH controller took a big leap forward in development through the access to the local hybrid simulator.

The work will continue in a follow-on project to use the hybrid simulator to generate results for clinical marketing and then focus towards miniaturisation to address smaller patients (women).