Abstract
Software has been developed too drive and control our newly designed motor-driven, pusher-plate-type cardiac assist device operated by the fixed duty ratio and variable voltage method. A sixteen-bit microprocessor controls the pump mode and the motor controller (eight-bit processor-based) which determines the speed and input voltage of the motor, monitoring the systolic position of the pusher-plate and using a timer in the diastolic phase. The actuator was designed to drive the pump in four modes: ECG synchronous, fixed pumping rate, fixed stroke and manual modes. The system performance studied in a mock circulator satisfied the design specification.
