Hemodynamic Response to Exercise and Head-Up Tilt of Patients Implanted With a Rotary Blood Pump: A Computational Modeling Study

Physiological principles of Starling-like control of rotary ventricular assist devices

Introduction: This review explores the Starling-like physiological control method (SLC) for rotary ventricular assist devices (VADs) for severe heart failure. The SLC, based on mathematical models of the circulation, has two functions modeling each ventricle. The first function controls the output of the VAD to the arterial pool according to Starling's law, while the second function accounts for how the blood returns to the heart from the veins. The article aims to expose clinicians to SLC in an accessible and clinically relevant discussion. Areas Covered: The article explores the physiology underlying the controller, its development and how that physiology can be adapted to SLC. Examples of controller performance are demonstrated and discussed using a benchtop model of the cardiovascular system. A discussion of the limitations and criticisms of SLC is presented, followed by a future outlook on the clinical adoption of SLC. Expert Opinion: Due to its simplicity and emulation of the natural cardiac autoregulation, SLC is the superior physiological control method for rotary VADs. However, current technical and regulatory challenges prevent the clinical translation of SLC of VADs. Further technical and regulatory development will enable the clinical translation of SLCs of VADs in the coming years.

Time Course Response of the Heart and Circulatory System to Active Postural Changes

Rotary blood pumps (RBPs) used for mechanical circulatory support of heart failure patients cannot passively change pump flow sufficiently in response to frequent variations in preload induced by active postural changes. A physiological control system that mimics the response of the healthy heart is needed to adjust pump flow according to patient demand. Thus, baseline data are required on how the healthy heart and circulatory system (i.e., heart rate (HR) and cardiac output (CO)) respond. This study investigated the response times of the healthy heart during active postural changes (supine-standing-supine) in 50 healthy subjects (27 male/23 female). Early response times (te) and settling times (ts) were calculated for HR and CO from data continuously collected with impedance cardiography. The initial circulatory response of HR and CO resulted in te of 9.0-11.7 s when standing up and te of 4.7-5.7 s when lying back down. Heart rate and CO settled in ts of 50.0-53.6 s and 46.3-58.2 s when standing up and lying down, respectively. In conclusion, when compared to active stand up, HR and CO responded significant faster initially when subjects were lying down (p < 0.05); there were no significant differences in response times between male and female subjects. These data will be used during evaluation of physiological control systems for RBPs, which may improve patient outcomes for end-stage heart failure patients.

Cardiovascular dynamics during head-up tilt assessed via pulsatile and non-pulsatile models

This study develops non-pulsatile and pulsatile models for the prediction of blood flow and pressure during head-up tilt. This test is used to diagnose potential pathologies within the autonomic control system, which acts to keep the cardiovascular system at homeostasis. We show that mathematical modeling can be used to predict changes in cardiac contractility, vascular resistance, and arterial compliance, quantities that cannot be measured but are useful to assess the system's state. These quantities are predicted as time-varying parameters modeled using piecewise linear splines. Having models with various levels of complexity formulated with a common set of parameters, allows us to combine long-term non-pulsatile simulations with pulsatile simulations on a shorter time-scale. We illustrate results for a representative subject tilted head-up from a supine position to a [Formula: see text] angle. The tilt is maintained for 5 min before the subject is tilted back down. Results show that if volume data is available for all vascular compartments three parameters can be identified, cardiovascular resistance, vascular compliance, and ventricular contractility, whereas if model predictions are made against arterial pressure and cardiac output data alone, only two parameters can be estimated either resistance and contractility or resistance and compliance.

Clinical Implications of Physiologic Flow Adjustment in Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Devices

There is increasing evidence for successful management of end-stage heart failure with continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) technology. However, passive flow adjustment at fixed CF-LVAD speed is susceptible to flow balancing issues as well as adverse hemodynamic effects relating to the diminished arterial pulse pressure and flow. With current therapy, flow cannot be adjusted with changes in venous return, which can vary significantly with volume status. This limits the performance and safety of CF-LVAD. Active flow adjustment strategies have been proposed to improve the synchrony between the pump and the native cardiovascular system, mimicking the Frank-Starling mechanism of the heart. These flow adjustment strategies include modulation by CF-LVAD pump speed by synchrony and maintenance of constant flow or constant pressure head, or a combination of these variables. However, none of these adjustment strategies have evolved sufficiently to gain widespread attention. Herein we review the current challenges and future directions of CF-LVAD therapy and sensor technology focusing on the development of a physiologic, long-term active flow adjustment strategy for CF-LVADs.

Response of a physiological controller for ventricular assist devices during acute patho-physiological events: an in vitro study

The current paper analyzes the performance of a physiological controller for turbodynamic ventricular assist devices (tVADs) during acute patho-physiological events. The numerical model of the human blood circulation implemented on our hybrid mock circulation was extended in order to simulate the Valsalva maneuver (VM) and premature ventricular contractions (PVCs). The performance of an end-diastolic volume (EDV)-based physiological controller for VADs, named preload responsive speed (PRS) controller was evaluated under VM and PVCs. A slow and a fast response of the PRS controller were implemented by using a 3 s moving window, and a beat-to-beat method, respectively, to extract the EDV index. The hemodynamics of a pathological circulation, assisted by a tVAD controlled by the PRS controller were analyzed and compared with a constant speed support case. The results show that the PRS controller prevented suction during the VM with both methods, while with constant speed, this was not the case. On the other hand, the pump flow reduction with the PRS controller led to low aortic pressure, while it remained physiological with the constant speed control. Pump backflow was increased when the moving window was used but it avoided sudden undesirable speed changes, which occurred during PVCs with the beat-to-beat method. In a possible clinical implementation of any physiological controller, the desired performance during frequent clinical acute scenarios should be considered.

High-frequency operation of a pulsatile VAD - a simulation study

Ventricular assist devices (VADs) are mechanical blood pumps that are clinically used to treat severe heart failure. Pulsatile VADs (pVADs) were initially used, but are today in most cases replaced by turbodynamic VADs (tVADs). The major concern with the pVADs is their size, which prohibits full pump body implantation for a majority of patients. A reduction of the necessary stroke volume can be achieved by increasing the stroke frequency, while maintaining the same level of support capability. This reduction in stroke volume in turn offers the possibility to reduce the pump's overall dimensions. We simulated a human cardiovascular system (CVS) supported by a pVAD with three different stroke rates that were equal, two- or threefold the heart rate (HR). The pVAD was additionally synchronized to the HR for better control over the hemodynamics and the ventricular unloading. The simulation results with a HR of 90 bpm showed that a pVAD stroke volume can be reduced by 71%, while maintaining an aortic pulse pressure (PP) of 30 mm Hg, avoiding suction events, reducing the ventricular stroke work (SW) and allowing the aortic valve to open. A reduction by 67% offers the additional possibility to tune the interaction between the pVAD and the CVS. These findings allow a major reduction of the pVAD's body size, while allowing the physician to tune the pVAD according to the patient's needs.

Preload-based Starling-like control of rotary blood pumps: An in-vitro evaluation

Due to a shortage of donor hearts, rotary left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are used to provide mechanical circulatory support. To address the preload insensitivity of the constant speed controller (CSC) used in conventional LVADs, we developed a preload-based Starling-like controller (SLC). The SLC emulates the Starling law of the heart to maintain mean pump flow (QP¯) with respect to mean left ventricular end diastolic pressure (PLVED_m) as the feedback signal. The SLC and CSC were compared using a mock circulation loop to assess their capacity to increase cardiac output during mild exercise while avoiding ventricular suction (marked by a negative PLVED_m) and maintaining circulatory stability during blood loss and severe reductions in left ventricular contractility (LVC). The root mean squared hemodynamic deviation (RMSHD) metric was used to assess the clinical acceptability of each controller based on pre-defined hemodynamic limits. We also compared the in-silico results from our previously published paper with our in-vitro outcomes. In the exercise simulation, the SLC increased QP¯ by 37%, compared to only 17% with the CSC. During blood loss, the SLC maintained a better safety margin against left ventricular suction with PLVED_m of 2.7 mmHg compared to -0.1 mmHg for CSC. A transition to reduced LVC resulted in decreased mean arterial pressure (MAP) and QP¯ with CSC, whilst the SLC maintained MAP and QP¯. The results were associated with a much lower RMSHD value with SLC (70.3%) compared to CSC (225.5%), demonstrating improved capacity of the SLC to compensate for the varying cardiac demand during profound circulatory changes. In-vitro and in-silico results demonstrated similar trends to the simulated changes in patient state however the magnitude of hemodynamic changes were different, thus justifying the progression to in-vitro evaluation.

Artificial Organs 2015: A Year in Review

In this Editor's Review, articles published in 2015 are organized by category and briefly summarized. We aim to provide a brief reflection of the currently available worldwide knowledge that is intended to advance and better human life while providing insight for continued application of technologies and methods of organ Replacement, Recovery, and Regeneration. As the official journal of The International Federation for Artificial Organs, The International Faculty for Artificial Organs, the International Society for Rotary Blood Pumps, the International Society for Pediatric Mechanical Cardiopulmonary Support, and the Vienna International Workshop on Functional Electrical Stimulation, Artificial Organs continues in the original mission of its founders "to foster communications in the field of artificial organs on an international level." Artificial Organs continues to publish developments and clinical applications of artificial organ technologies in this broad and expanding field of organ Replacement, Recovery, and Regeneration from all over the world. We take this time also to express our gratitude to our authors for providing their work to this journal. We offer our very special thanks to our reviewers who give so generously of their time and expertise to review, critique, and especially provide meaningful suggestions to the author's work whether eventually accepted or rejected. Without these excellent and dedicated reviewers, the quality expected from such a journal could not be possible. We also express our special thanks to our Publisher, John Wiley & Sons for their expert attention and support in the production and marketing of Artificial Organs. We look forward to reporting further advances in the coming years.

Evaluation of Physiological Control Systems for Rotary Left Ventricular Assist Devices: An In-Vitro Study

Rotary left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) show weaker response to preload and greater response to afterload than the native heart. This may lead to ventricular suction or pulmonary congestion, which can be deleterious to the patient's recovery. A physiological control system which optimizes responsiveness of LVADs may reduce adverse events. This study compared eight physiological control systems for LVAD support against constant speed mode. Pulmonary (PVR) and systemic (SVR) vascular resistance changes, a passive postural change and exercise were simulated in a mock circulation loop to evaluate the controller's ability to prevent suction and congestion and to increase exercise capacity. Three active and one passive control systems prevented ventricular suction at high PVR (500 dyne s cm(-5)) and low SVR (600 dyne s cm(-5)) by decreasing LVAD speed (by 200-515 rpm) and by increasing LVAD inflow cannula resistance (up to 1000 dyne s cm(-5)) respectively. These controllers increased LVAD preload sensitivity (to 0.196-2.415 L min(-1) mmHg(-1)) compared to the other control systems and constant speed mode (0.039-0.069 L min(-1) mmHg(-1)). The same three active controllers increased pump speed (600-800 rpm) and thus LVAD flow by 4.5 L min(-1) during exercise which increased exercise capacity. Physiological control systems that prevent adverse events and/or increase exercise capacity may help improve LVAD patient conditions.

Preload-based starling-like control for rotary blood pumps: numerical comparison with pulsatility control and constant speed operation

In this study, we evaluate a preload-based Starling-like controller for implantable rotary blood pumps (IRBPs) using left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (PLVED) as the feedback variable. Simulations are conducted using a validated mathematical model. The controller emulates the response of the natural left ventricle (LV) to changes in PLVED. We report the performance of the preload-based Starling-like controller in comparison with our recently designed pulsatility controller and constant speed operation. In handling the transition from a baseline state to test states, which include vigorous exercise, blood loss and a major reduction in the LV contractility (LVC), the preload controller outperformed pulsatility control and constant speed operation in all three test scenarios. In exercise, preload-control achieved an increase of 54% in mean pump flow ([Formula: see text]) with minimum loading on the LV, while pulsatility control achieved only a 5% increase in flow and a decrease in mean pump speed. In a hemorrhage scenario, the preload control maintained the greatest safety margin against LV suction. PLVED for the preload controller was 4.9 mmHg, compared with 0.4 mmHg for the pulsatility controller and 0.2 mmHg for the constant speed mode. This was associated with an adequate mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 84 mmHg. In transition to low LVC, [Formula: see text] for preload control remained constant at 5.22 L/min with a PLVED of 8.0 mmHg. With regards to pulsatility control, [Formula: see text] fell to the nonviable level of 2.4 L/min with an associated PLVED of 16 mmHg and a MAP of 55 mmHg. Consequently, pulsatility control was deemed inferior to constant speed mode with a PLVED of 11 mmHg and a [Formula: see text] of 5.13 L/min in low LVC scenario. We conclude that pulsatility control imposes a danger to the patient in the severely reduced LVC scenario, which can be overcome by using a preload-based Starling-like control approach.