A monitoring device for pressurised-air-driven diaphragm-based artificial heart assist devices.

A non-invasive device has been developed to monitor the diaphragm position and the blood flow in artificial heart assist devices equipped with a pressurised-air-driven diaphragm. Light scattering from the diaphragm is used as a mechanism for measuring. Information about the position of several points of the diaphragm can be obtained. The completely empty or filled situation can be detected and used for control purposes. Flow data can be extracted and bending characteristics of the diaphragm during operation can be studied.