Dynamic optimization of in-series cardiac assistance by means of intra-aortic balloon pumping

Analytical techniques are developed which permit objective control of asiist device driving systems. In addition to being objective, the techniques described in this paper are optimal in the sense of minimizing a performance index which consists of a term involving left ventricular power and a term involving deviations of aorta hemodynamic parameters from normal values. Comparisons are included of off-line computations and measurements on dogs with experimentally induced myocardial infarctions undergoing intraaortic balloon pumping.