Controller and power source for implantable blood pump

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for controlling the operation of, and providing power for and to, implantable ventricular assist devices which include a brushless DC motor-driven blood pump, are disclosed. In one embodiment, a control system for driving an implantable pump is provided. The digital processor is responsive to data associated with the operation of the pump received at the data transfer port, and from the program data stored in memory, (i) to determine therefrom, the identity of the pump, (ii) to determine therefrom, electrical characteristics and features of the identified pump, and (iii) to adaptively generate and apply to the data port, control signals for driving the identified pump. Latch mechanisms, an elongated flexible electrical cable with a strain relief segment, and a lower housing portion that is heavier than an upper housing portion, may also be provided with the control system.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A control system for driving an implantable blood pump in a patient comprising:
 a housing including electronic components configured to drive the pump; and   an elongated flexible electrical cable having a first end, a second end remote from the first end, an internal portion, and an external portion, the first end configured to connect to the housing, the second end configured to operatively connect to the implantable blood pump, the internal portion configured to be positioned internal to the patient, and the external portion configured to be positioned external to the patient;   wherein a dynamic member of the external portion of the cable has an unstrained condition in which the external portion of the cable has a first length, and a strained condition in which the external portion of the cable has a second length, the second length being between about 3.5 feet and about 4 feet and being greater than the first length.   
     
     
         20 . The control system of  claim 19 , wherein the dynamic member of the cable comprises a strain relief segment. 
     
     
         21 . The control system of  claim 19 , wherein the dynamic member of the cable has a helical shape when in the unstrained condition. 
     
     
         22 . The control system of  claim 19 , wherein the dynamic member of the cable has a length of about 2 feet when in the strained condition. 
     
     
         23 . The control system of  claim 19 , wherein the external portion of the cable includes a static member having a length of between about 1.5 feet and about 2 feet. 
     
     
         24 . The control system of  claim 23 , wherein the static member of the cable includes at least two discontinuous parts. 
     
     
         25 . The control system of  claim 24 , wherein the dynamic member of the cable is positioned between the at least two discontinuous parts of the static member of the cable. 
     
     
         26 . The control system of  claim 19 , wherein the housing includes a first housing portion that includes the electronic components, and a second housing portion configured to house a battery. 
     
     
         27 . The control system of  claim 26 , wherein the first end of the cable is configured to connect to the first housing portion. 
     
     
         28 . The control system of  claim 26 , wherein the first housing portion includes a first latch configured to couple to a corresponding first recess in the second housing portion, and the second housing portion includes a second latch configured to couple to a corresponding second recess in the first housing portion. 
     
     
         29 . A surgical method comprising:
 implanting a blood pump into a patient;   coupling a first end of an elongated flexible electrical cable to a housing of a control system, the control system configured to drive the pump; and   operatively coupling a second end of the cable to the blood pump;   wherein after coupling the first end of the cable to the housing and the second end of the cable to the blood pump, a portion of the cable external to the patient includes a dynamic member having an unstrained condition in which the external portion of the cable has a first length, and a strained condition in which the external portion of the cable has a second length, the second length being between about 3.5 feet and about 4 feet and being greater than the first length.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the dynamic member of the cable comprises a strain relief segment. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the dynamic member of the cable has a helical shape when in the unstrained condition. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the dynamic member of the cable has a length of about 2 feet when in the strained condition. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the external portion of the cable includes a static member having a length of between about 1.5 feet and about 2 feet. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the static member of the cable includes at least two discontinuous parts. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the dynamic member of the cable is positioned between the at least two discontinuous parts of the static member of the cable. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the housing includes a first housing portion that includes the electronic components, and a second housing portion configured to house a battery. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the step of connecting the first end of the cable to the housing includes connecting the first end of the cable to the first housing portion. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the first housing portion includes a first latch configured to couple to a corresponding first recess in the second housing portion, and the second housing portion includes a second latch configured to couple to a corresponding second recess in the first housing portion.