Frequency analysis of blood flow in patients on a total artificial heart

The ability to measure variations in the blood flow returning to a total artificial heart (TAH) and correlate the variations to physiological changes could greatly enhance the effectiveness of a control system for a TAH. This work examined the power spectrum of the blood flow returning to a Jarvik 7-70 TAH using digital signal processing techniques. A significant relationship was found between conditions such as tamponade or increased pulmonary vascular resistance and spectral power.