Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining flow through a circulatory support device are provided. The method comprises receiving a motor current signal from a motor of the circulatory support device, determining within a time window of the motor current signal, a measured current value at which flow through the circulatory support device is maximum, determining an offset value based, at least in part, on the measured current value, determining based, at least in part, on the received motor current signal, whether an abnormal condition has occurred, adjusting the motor current signal based, at least in part, on the offset value and the determination of whether an abnormal condition has occurred to produce an adjusted motor current signal, and determining the flow through the circulatory support device based, at least in part, on the adjusted motor current signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting suction events in blood pumps by monitoring pump motor current. A pump suction event is detected based on a comparison of a pulsatility index that is calculated based on a filtered pump motor current signal with a first predetermined threshold or based on a comparison of a calculated index associated with a normalized band-pass filtered pump motor current signal with a second predetermined threshold. A suction event is also detected based on comparisons of both the calculated pulsatility index and the calculated index associated with the normalized band-pass filtered pump motor current signal with respective first and second predetermined thresholds.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed in the field of preparing a catheter for use in a patient, in particular a catheter of an intravascular blood pump, more specifically for properly purging and de-airing the catheter. The catheter comprises an elongate tubular portion and a connected device. The elongate tubular portion is configured to be inserted into a patient's blood vessel and defines a lumen. The connected device is connected to the elongate tubular portion and has a cavity, which may accommodate a drive unit of the blood pump, and which is in fluid communication with the lumen of the elongate tubular portion. In order to securely de-air the system, a sensor, such as an accelerometer, for detecting an orientation of the connected device is provided, and a user may be guided to correct the orientation of the connected device for proper purging.