Integrated Controller For Ventricular Assist Device
An integrated control module is provided for a ventricular assist device. A housing receives a power monitoring/switching circuit, a main receptacle, and a quasi-internal backup receptacle. The main receptacle within the housing receives a main battery. The main receptacle is configured for manual installation and removal of the main battery without requiring any separate tool. The quasi-internal backup receptacle within the housing receives a backup battery having a battery capacity less than the main battery. The backup receptacle includes a locking mechanism that requires use of a separate tool to unlock the locking mechanism for removing the backup battery. The backup battery is installed and removed without disturbing power supplied from a main battery in the main receptacle to the power monitoring/switching circuit.
1 . An integrated control module for a ventricular assist device comprising:
a housing;
a power monitoring/switching circuit within the housing;
a main receptacle within the housing for receiving a main battery, wherein the main receptacle is configured for manual installation and removal of the main battery without requiring any separate tool; and
a quasi-internal backup receptacle within the housing for receiving a backup battery having a battery capacity less than the main battery, wherein the backup receptacle includes a locking mechanism that requires use of a separate tool to unlock the locking mechanism for removing the backup battery, and wherein the backup battery is installed and removed without disturbing power supplied from a main battery in the main receptacle to the power monitoring/switching circuit.
2 . The integrated control module of claim 1 further comprising:
a pump controller within the housing connected to receive power from the power monitoring/switching circuit;
wherein the power monitoring/switching circuit is configured to continuously supply power from an installed main battery during times that the backup battery is removed.
3 . The integrated control module of claim 1 wherein use of the separate tool is required to lock the locking mechanism for installing the backup battery.
4 . The integrated control module of claim 1 wherein the locking mechanism is comprised of a threaded fastener that is movable between unlocked and locked positions by a screwdriver.
5 . The integrated control module of claim 1 further comprising:
a backup battery module containing the backup battery and having an outer casing for forming a continuous surface with said housing when the backup battery module is installed in the backup receptacle.
6 . The integrated control module of claim 1 further comprising:
an external power connector configured to receive external AC/DC power; and
an internal battery charging circuit coupled to the power monitoring/switching circuit for recharging the backup battery when external AC/DC power is present.