Monitoring system for physiological support systems

Claim 2

In a circulatory assist system which sequentially actuates a blood pump by controlling fluid load pressure to the pump, the combination comprising: a. sensing means for sensing pump fluid load pressure; b. first means responsive to said sensing means for increasing said pressure when it falls below a first predetermined level; and c. second means responsive to said sensing means for venting said pressure to ambient pressure when the load pressure exceeds a second predetermined level.

Claim 3

The combination as defined in claim 1 and further including third means responsive to said sensing means for venting said pressure to ambient pressure when said pressure falls below a third predetermined level.

Claim 4

The combination as defined in claim 2 and further including first timing means responsive to said first means for measuring a first predetermined time interval and further including fourth means responsive to said first timing means and said sensing means for venting said pressure to ambient pressure when said pressure increasing to a fourth predetermined level does not occur within a first predetermined interval.

Claim 5

The combination as defined in claim 3 and further including a second timing means responsive to said sensing means for measuring a second predetermined time interval and further including fifth means responsive to said second timing means and said means for venting said pressure to ambient pressure when said pressure falls from above a fourth predetermined level to below said first predetermined level within a second predetermined interval.

Claim 6

The combination as defined in claim 4 wherein said fourth predetermined level is greater than said first predetermined level and is less than said second predetermined level.

Claim 7

The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said third predetermined level is less than said first predetermined level which is less than said second predetermined level.

Claim 8

The combination as defined in claim 4 wherein the first predetermined interval is longer than the second predetermined interval.

Claim 9

The combination as defined in claim 4 and including further means responsive to said sensing means for changing pressure when it deviates from a normal level within a predetermined pressure range lying between said first predetermined level and a fifth predetermined level.

Claim 10

The combination as defined in claim 8 wherein said last mentioned pressure change in response to load pressure exceeding the normal level within the predetermined pressure range is accomplished by relatively slowly venting to ambient as compared to the rate of venting when load pressure exceeds the second predetermined level.

Claim 11

The combination as defined in claim 8 wherein said fifth predetermined level is greater than said first predetermined level and is less than said second predetermined level.

Claim 12

The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said first means includes a slow fill valve whose rate is not substantially in excess of in vivo blood to absorb the fluid utilized.

Claim 13

A circulatory assist system comprising: a. Fluid driven pump means for pumping blood; b. means for sensing pump fluid load pressure; c. means for venting said load pressure to ambient; d. means for increasing said load pressure; and e. a plurality of means responsive to said sensing means including, first means for controlling said venting means within a predetermined load pressure range, second means for controlling said pressure increase means within said same predetermined load pressure range, and third means for controlling said pressure venting means above and below said predetermined load pressure range.

Claim 14

A circulatory assist system comprising: a. Fluid driven pump means for pumping blood; b. means for sensing pump fluid load pressure; c. means for venting said load pressure to ambient; d. means for increasing said load pressure; and e. a plurality of means responsive to said sensing means including, first means for controlling said venting means within a predetermined load pressure range, second means for controlling said pressure increase means within said same predetermined load pressure range, and third means for controlling said pressure venting means above and below said predetermined load pressure range.

Claim 15

A system as defined in claim 12 wherein, the venting means includes a relatively slow vent and a relatively fast vent, the latter serving to vent above and below the predetermined load pressure range.

Claim 16

A system as defined in claim 13 further including fourth means coupling the first and second controlling means to said low pressure venting and to said increasing means, thereby causing pressure to vent when the pressure falls below said predetermined range within a first predetermined interval.

Claim 17

A system as defined in claim 14 and further including fifth means coupling said first and second controlling means to said low pressure venting for said increasing means, thereby causing pressure to vent when the time required to increase pressure to said predetermined range exceeds a second predetermined interval.

Claim 18

A system as defined in claim 15 wherein the first predetermined interval is longer than the second.