Collaborative Research: Patient-Adaptive Feedback Control of Rotary Heart Assist Devices

拟议的项目涉及开发数学工具，用于建模和控制由生理组件（心脏）和称为左心室辅助装置（或LVAD）的机电组件组成的复杂系统。 LVAD是一种机械装置，其目的是辅助等待心脏移植的充血性心力衰竭患者的心脏。 这些设备的使用增加所面临的重要工程挑战是开发适当的控制器，该控制器可以自动调节设备的旋转速度以满足患者的循环需求。这样的控制器，除了是鲁棒和可靠的，必须能够适应患者的日常活动和生理变化。在这个项目中，我们将研究与开发这种控制器相关的理论和基本问题。智力优势：拟议的研究，这是高度跨学科的性质，将增加我们对与这种非常规非线性时变系统的建模和控制相关的基本技术问题的理解，该系统涉及生理成分之间的相互作用（心脏）和机电设备（LVAD）。必要的理论和数学工具的发展将使我们能够理解如何有效地控制这样一个复杂的系统以及其他类型的类似复杂的系统。更广泛的影响：拟议的研究的影响将主要是提高终末期充血性心力衰竭等待心脏移植的患者的生活质量。现有LVAD控制技术的任何改进都将对患有这种心脏病的患者的身体状况和最终康复产生巨大影响。该项目的另一个重要影响是教育和培训工程专业的学生，包括女生和少数民族学生，作为一个团队在一个高度跨学科和具有挑战性的项目上合作。

The proposed project involves the development of mathematical tools for modeling and control of a complex system consisting of a physiological component (the heart) and an electromechanical component known as a Left-Ventricular Assist Device (or LVAD). An LVAD is a mechanical device whose purpose is to assist the heart of patients with congestive heart failure waiting for heart transplantation. An important engineering challenge facing the increased use of these devices is the development of an appropriate controller that can automatically adjust the rotational speed of the device to meet the circulatory demand of the patient. Such a controller, in addition to being robust and reliable, must be able to adapt to the daily activities and physiological changes of the patient. In this project, we propose to investigate theoretical and fundamental issues associated with the development of such a controller.Intellectual merit: The proposed research, which is highly interdisciplinary in nature, will increase our understanding of fundamental technical issues related to the modeling and control of this non-conventional nonlinear time-varying system which involves interactions between a physiological component (the heart) and an electromechanical device (the LVAD). The development of the necessary theory and mathematical tools will enable us to understand how to effectively control such a complex system as well as other types of similarly complex systems.Broader impact: The impact of the proposed research will primarily be in improving the quality of life for patients with end-stage congestive heart failure awaiting heart transplantation. Any improvement in the existing technology of LVAD control will have a tremendous effect on the physical condition and ultimately the recovery of patients suffering from this heart disease. Another important impact of this project is in educating and training engineering students, including female and minority students, to work together as a team on a highly interdisciplinary and challenging project.