CARDIOVASCULAR SUPPORT CONTROL SYSTEM

An apparatus for assisting cardiac function of a patient includes an inflatable chamber (10) operably positioned with respect to an aorta of the patient, a percutaneous access device (12) implanted with respect to a hypogastric region of the patient, connectible in fluid communication (28) with the inflatable chamber, a drive unit (14) connectible through the percutaneous access device (12) for selectively inflating, and deflating the inflatable chamber (10) in accordance with a control program (not shown) stored in memory. The control program controls the drive unit (14) in response to a periodically scheduled patient monitoring routine for measuring values of the physiology of the patient. It uses measured values, physician programmable parameters for assisting cardiac function of the patient, and communicates with a software program (not shown) for adjusting settings in the drive unit (14). The software program also retrieves current values of physician programmable parameters, and selected histories of drive unit operation including error detection records. It can display (not shown) a continuous ECG, and/or a single beat real time aortic pressure waveform sample.