Pulsatile control system for a rotary blood pump

1. A system for controlling the speed of a rotary blood pump having a motor, comprising:

an impedance sensor adapted for measuring the impedance across a portion of the heart;

a controller configured to

receive as input a signal produced by the impedance sensor,

calculate a pulsatility index indicative of a diastole or systole phase of a cardiac cycle from the signal, and

send a control signal based on the computed pulsatility index for varying the pump speed between a first and second speed so as to synchronize motor speed with the occurrence of the diastole or systole phase of the cardiac cycle.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to calculate a pulsatility index indicative of a diastole or systole phase of a cardiac cycle based on a respiration rate of an implanted patient, as indicated by the received signal.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to receive as input two motor speed settings.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to operate at a single speed set point with fluctuations about the set point corresponding to the input first and second speeds.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured for varying pump speed to prevent ventricular collapse or maximize pumping efficiency.

6. A method for controlling the speed of a rotary blood pump having a motor, comprising:

sensing a signal produced by an impedance sensor adapted for measuring the impedance across a portion of the heart;

deteimining a parameter indicative of a diastole or systole phase of a cardiac cycle from the sensed signal; and

varying the pump speed between a first and second motor speed based on the determined parameter so as to synchronize motor speed with the occurrence of the diastole or systole phase of the cardiac cycle.

7. The method of claim 6 , further including determining a pulsatility index indicative of a diastole or systole phase of a cardiac cycle.

8. The method of claim 6 , further including determining the parameter indicative of a diastole or systole phase of a cardiac cycle based on the received signal indicating a respiration rate of an implanted patient.

9. The method of claim 6 , further including providing the first and second motor speeds as input to a controller for performing the method.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the pump speed is varied to prevent ventricular collapse or maximize pumping efficiency.

11. A system for preventing ventricular collapse or maximizing pumping efficiency, comprising:

a rotary blood pump having a motor; and

a controller coupled to the blood pump;

wherein the controller is configured to receive as input

a signal produced by an impedance sensor adapted for measuring the impedance across a portion of the heart,

calculate a parameter indicative of a diastole or systole phase of a cardiac cycle from the received signal, and

send a control signal to the motor based on the computed parameter for varying the pump speed between a first and second speed so as to synchronize motor speed with the occurrence of the diastole or systole phase of the cardiac cycle.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the blood pump includes a magnetically suspended, or hydro-dynamically suspended impeller.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured for being external of the patient.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to receive as input two motor speed settings.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to calculate a pulsatility index indicative of a diastole or systole phase of a cardiac cycle.