Automatic control of a totally implantable artificial heart using impedance cardiography

Since the physical position or motion of the body affects its condition, and this in turn affects the heart-rate and amount of blood being pumped, an artificial heart must be controlled according to the change in the physical condition caused by physical position or motion. For automatic control of the actuator in a totally implantable artificial heart (TIAH), a great deal of information concerning the physical condition of the body is required. Part of the necessary information can be obtained by measuring the impedance of various parts on the body surface with an impedance cardiograph. The information thus obtained can be transmitted into the body through a transcutaneous optical telemetry system (TOTS), and is used for controlling the actuator which is driven by a transcutaneous energy transmission system (TETS). This paper describes the scheme of such an automatic control system for an artificial heart.