Preliminary evaluation of a predictive controller for a rotary blood pump based on pulmonary oxygen gas exchange.

Physiological control of rotary blood pumps is becoming increasingly necessary for clinical use. In this study, the mean oxygen partial pressure in the upper airway was first quantitatively evaluated as a control objective for a rotary blood pump. A model-free predictive controller was designed based on this control objective. Then, the quantitative evaluation of the controller was implemented with a rotary blood pump model on a complete cardiovascular model incorporated with airway mechanics and gas exchange models. The results show that the controller maintained a mean oxygen partial pressure at a normal and constant level of 138 mmHg in the left heart failure condition and restored basic haemodynamics of blood circulation. A left ventricular contractility recovery condition was also replicated to assess the response of the controller, and a stable result was obtained. This study indicates the potential use of the oxygen partial pressure index during pulmonary gas exchange when developing a multi-objective physiological controller for rotary blood pumps.