Physiological parameters based control scheme for automatic intravascular balloon inflation

Abstract

A control scheme based on physiological parameters for the inflation of an intra-aortic clamping balloon is presented. Automatic volumetric pumps for the inflation of balloon catheter have been largely developed, although the process modelling for catheter mounted balloon's inflation has never been discussed. Automatic inflation is a key issue for autonomous positioning and navigation of an intra-aortic catheter. This work explores the possibility of modelling the inflation process for a catheter mounted balloon, proposing a first order model. The pole's position depends by the catheter's hydraulic resistance and by the sum of the aorta's and balloon's compliance. Main advance of this control scheme is the fact of taking into account a physiological parameter, integrating it in the control algorithm. The estimation of the aorta's compliance can be done either with in-vitro experiments or at the same time while controlling the pump by means of an adaptive control scheme. The scheme was applied to control a volumetric pump and tested in vitro and in vivo, showing a reasonable settling time, rise time and overshoot.