Control system

1. A control system for controlling the blood flow rate in a blood supply system in which a first pump is provided to transport blood from a reservoir via a first passage at a flow rate toward a plurality of outlets of which one or more of the outlets are openable to permit flow through the outlet and closable to block flow through the outlet, wherein the plurality of outlets includes a first outlet and one or more further outlets,

wherein the control system comprises:

a monitoring arrangement to determine a flow value representative of the flow rate through the first outlet of the plurality of outlets,

one or more outlet pumps, each outlet pump provided to transport blood through a corresponding one of the further outlets, and

a controller responsive to the monitoring arrangement,

wherein the monitoring arrangement is configured to determine outlet flow rates of the one or more further outlets from outlet pump parameters of the corresponding outlet pumps or by analyzing an operational status of the corresponding outlet pumps,

wherein the flow value is determined based on the one or more outlet flow rates, and

wherein the controller is configured to contemporaneously or proactively control the first pump to maintain the flow rate through the first outlet at a pre-determined level.

2. The control system according to claim 1 , wherein the monitoring arrangement is configured to determine the flow value representative of the flow rate through the first outlet by analyzing an operational status of the first pump.

3. The control system according to claim 1 , configured to calibrate components of the monitoring arrangement on the basis of one or more outlet flow rates.

4. The control system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine that an outlet is open depending on the operational status of a corresponding outlet pump.

5. The control system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine that an outlet is open when the outlet flow rate exceeds a pre-determined threshold.

6. The control system according to claim 1 , wherein the monitoring arrangement is further configured to determine a line pressure in the first passage, and wherein the controller is configured to prevent operation of one or more outlet pumps if the line pressure is below a pre-set threshold level.

7. The control system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one outlet is configured to provide blood suitable for use in at least one selected from the group consisting of a cerebral perfusion line, a cardioplegia line, a purge line, and a blood sampling offtake.

8. The control system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one selected from the group consisting of one or more of the first pumps, the one or more flow sensors, the one or more outlet pumps, the one or more pressure sensors, the controller, and the monitoring arrangement is configured to exchange data via a network connection.

9. A control system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises a processor and software instructions implemented by the processor.

10. A method of controlling the blood flow rate in a blood supply system in which a first pump is provided to transport blood from a reservoir via a first passage at a flow rate toward a plurality of outlets of which one or more of the outlets are openable to permit flow through the outlet and closable to block flow through the outlet, the plurality of outlets including a first outlet and one or more further outlets, the blood supply system further comprising one or more outlet pumps to transport blood through a corresponding one of the further outlets, the method comprising:

determining a flow value representative of the flow rate through the first outlet of the plurality of outlets,

determining outlet flow rates of the one or more further outlets from outlet pump parameters of the corresponding outlet pumps, or by analyzing an operational status of the corresponding outlet pumps, wherein the flow value is determined based on the one or more outlet flow rates, and

controlling the first pump, contemporaneously or proactively, to maintain the flow rate through the first outlet at a pre-determined level.

11. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:

analyzing an operational status of the first pump, and

determining the flow value representative of the flow rate through the first outlet by analyzing an operational status of the first pump.

12. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:

determining that an outlet is open depending on the operational status of a corresponding outlet pump.

13. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:

determining that an outlet is open when the outlet flow rate exceeds a pre-determined threshold.

14. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising

determining a line pressure in the first passage, and

preventing operation of one or more outlet pumps if the line pressure is below a pre-set threshold level.

15. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:

providing a network connection to exchange data between at least one selected from a group consisting of one or more of the first pump, the one or more flow sensors, the one or more outlet pumps, one or more pressure sensors, the controller, and the monitoring arrangement.

16. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:

specifying a first pump parameter setting,

determining an outlet configuration indicative of which outlets are open,

operating the first pump with the first pump parameter setting,

determining the flow rate through each open outlet, and

calculating a calibration value for the outlet configuration by relating the flow rate to the first pump parameter setting.

17. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising:

altering the outlet configuration to provide an altered outlet configuration,

determining the altered outlet configuration, and

calculating a calibration value for the altered outlet configuration by relating the flow rate to the first pump parameter setting.

18. The method according to claim 10 , wherein a diverting pump is provided to draw blood from the first passage into a secondary passage, the method comprising:

specifying a first pump parameter setting for the diverting pump,

operating the diverting pump with the first pump parameter setting,

measuring the diverted flow rate in the secondary passage while the diverting pump is operated with the first pump parameter setting, and

calculating a calibration value for the diverting pump by relating the diverted flow rate to the first pump parameter setting.