MEASUREMENT METHODS FOR ARTIFICIAL HEART DIAGNOSTICS
Grzegorz Konieczny, Z. Opilski, Tadeusz Piotr Pustelny, Erwin Maciak, Adam Gacek, R. Kustosz · 2009
Summary. Methods for pressure measurement to be used in the POLVAD artificial heart prostheses are described in this paper. The mechanical prostheses used for heart support are developed by the Foundation of Cardiac Surgery Development in Zabrze. Their main purpose is to aid the heart muscle recovery of patients with cardiac problems. Use of the POLVAD prosthesis speeds up the healing process. The paper covers the recent research into the possible pressure sensing methods for use in the noninvasive blood pressure measurement in required places around the prosthesis. The main requirement for the developed methods is lack of contact with blood to avoid the destruction of blood elements and minimise influence on the blood flow. Two sensing methods are presented: one based on a fiber pressure sensor, the other on piezoelectric pressure measurements. The preliminary results are included, and choice of the best method for future development is pointed out.