Nonlinear modelling and control of left ventricular assist device

Abstract

A novel integrated approach for modelling and control of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) to achieve a physiological perfusion in patients with heart failure (HF) is proposed. A sensorless mathematical model of an LVAD has been developed to estimate an average pump flow. An advanced physiological control algorithm using the pole placement sliding mode control (PPSMC) approach was derived based on the estimated flow. The merits of the proposed approach have been evaluated with different physiological conditions using a cardiovascular model that is previously developed and validated using data from two healthy pigs. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed control algorithm in conjunction with the mathematical model of pump flow is able to robustly track the desired reference pump flow with small error in the presence of disturbance and uncertainties.