Counterpulsation device driver apparatus, method and system

1. A method of operating a counterpulsation device (CPD) in a human or animal subject, the method comprising:

receiving a heart beat signal indicative of the heart beat of the subject;

providing counterpulsation therapy by controlling the pressure supplied to a CPD drive line in pneumatic communication with the CPD to cause the CPD to alternately fill with blood and eject blood with a timing that is determined at least in part based on the heart beat signal;

while providing counterpulsation therapy, receiving a CPD drive line pressure signal indicative of the pressure in the CPD drive line;

analyzing the drive line pressure signal as a function of time to determine a full fill or full empty condition of the CPD;

detecting a temporal location of the full fill or full empty condition during an operation cycle of the CPD;

comparing the temporal location to a desired range; and

if the temporal location is outside of the desired range, adjusting the pressure supplied to the drive line.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the CPD comprises drive chamber in pneumatic communication with the drive line and a blood chamber that is sealed from the drive chamber by a membrane, and

herein analyzing the drive line pressure signal to determine a full fill or full empty condition of the CPD comprises detecting a feature in the drive line pressure signal indicative of the membrane reaching a substantially stationary end position.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising, during emptying of the CPD:

determining if the temporal location of the full empty condition occurs at a time earlier than the desired range and, if so, adjusting the drive line pressure to slow the emptying.

4. The method of claim 1 , comprising, during emptying of the CPD:

determining if the temporal location of the full empty condition occurs at a time later than the desired range or does not occur and, if so, adjusting the drive line pressure to speed up the emptying.

5. The method of claim 1 , comprising, during filling of the CPD:

determining if the temporal location of the full fill condition occurs at a time earlier than the desired range and, if so, adjusting the drive line pressure to slow the filling.

6. The method of claim 1 , comprising, during filling of the CPD:

determining if the temporal location of the full fill condition occurs at a time later than the desired range or does not occur and, if so, adjusting the drive line pressure to speed up the filling.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the pressure supplied to the drive line comprises adjusting one or more operating parameters of a pump device pneumatically coupled to the CPD drive line.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the pump device comprises a compressor, and wherein adjusting one or more operating parameters of the pump device comprises adjusting an operating parameter of the compressor.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the pump device comprises one or more pressure or vacuum chambers, and wherein adjusting one or more operating parameters of the pump device comprises controlling one or more venting valves associated with the one or more pressure or vacuum chambers.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the heart beat signal comprises an EKG signal.

11. The method of claim 1 , comprising controlling the drive line pressure based at least in part on the heartbeat signal to cause the CPD to eject blood when the heart is filling and to fill with blood when the heart is ejecting blood.

12. An apparatus for controlling the operation of a counterpulsation device (CPD) in a human or animal subject, the apparatus comprising a controller configured to:

receive a heart beat signal indicative of the heart beat of the subject;

provide counterpulsation therapy by controlling the pressure supplied to a CPD drive line in pneumatic communication with the CPD to cause the CPD to alternately fill with blood and eject blood with a timing that is determined at least in part based on the heart beat signal;

while providing counterpulsation therapy, receive a CPD drive line pressure signal indicative of the pressure in the CPD drive line;

analyze the drive line pressure signal as a function of time to determine a full fill or full empty condition of the CPD;

detect the temporal location of the full fill or full empty condition during an operation cycle of the CPD;

compare the temporal location to a desired range; and

if the temporal location is outside of the desired range, adjust the pressure supplied to the drive line.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein:

the CPD comprises drive chamber in pneumatic communication with the drive line and a blood chamber that is sealed from the drive chamber by a membrane, and

wherein the controller is configured to analyze the drive line pressure signal to determine a full fill or full empty condition of the CPD by detecting a feature in the drive line pressure signal indicative of the membrane reaching a substantially stationary end position.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to, during emptying of the CPD:

determine if the temporal location of the full empty condition occurs at a time earlier than the desired range and, if so, adjust the drive line pressure to slow the emptying.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to, during emptying of the CPD:

determine if the temporal location of the full empty condition occurs at a time later than the desired range or does not occur and, if so, adjust the drive line pressure to speed up the emptying.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to, during filling of the CPD:

determine if the temporal location of the full fill condition occurs at a time earlier than the desired range and, if so, adjust the drive line pressure to slow the filling.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to, during filling of the CPD:

determine if the temporal location of the full fill condition occurs at a time later than the desired range or does not occur and, if so, adjust the drive line pressure to speed up the filling.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 , the controller is configured to adjust the pressure supplied to the drive line by adjusting one or more operating parameters of a pump device pneumatically coupled to the CPD drive line.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the pump device comprises a compressor, and wherein adjusting one or more operating parameters of the pump device comprises adjusting an operating parameter of the compressor.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the pump device comprises one or more pressure or vacuum chambers, and wherein adjusting one or more operating parameters of the pump device comprises controlling one or more venting valves associated with the one or more pressure or vacuum chambers.

21. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the heart beat signal comprises an EKG signal.

22. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to control the drive line pressure based at least in part on the heartbeat signal to cause the CPD to eject blood when the heart is filling and to fill with blood when the heart is ejecting blood.

23. The apparatus of claim 18 , further comprising the pump device.

24. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising a sensor configured to generate the drive line pressure signal.

25. A system comprising:

a CPD; and

an apparatus operatively coupled to the CPD, the apparatus comprising:

a controller configured to:

receive a heart beat signal indicative of the heart beat of the subject;

provide counterpulsation therapy by controlling the pressure supplied to a CPD drive line in pneumatic communication with the CPD to cause the CPD to alternately fill with blood and eject blood with a timing that is determined at least in part based on the heart beat signal;

while providing counterpulsation therapy, receive a CPD drive line pressure signal indicative of the pressure in the CPD drive line, analyze the drive line pressure signal as a function of time to determine a full fill or full empty condition of the CPD, detect the temporal location of the full fill or full empty condition during an operation cycle of the CPD, compare the temporal location to a desired range; and, if the temporal location is outside of the desired range, adjust the pressure supplied to the drive line.

26. The system of claim 25 , further comprising the CPD drive line.

27. The system of claim 25 , further comprising a sensor configured to generate the heart beat signal.

28. The system of claim 27 , wherein the sensor configured to generate the heart beat signal comprises an EKG unit.

29. The system of claim 25 , further comprising a graft configured to connect the CPD to a blood vessel in the subject.