Expansion of the Multi-Link Frontier™ Coronary Bifurcation Stent: Micro-Computed Tomographic Assessment in Human Autopsy and Porcine Heart Samples

BACKGROUND: Treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions remains challenging, beyond the introduction of drug eluting stents. Dedicated stent systems are available to improve the technical approach to the treatment of these lesions. However dedicated stent systems have so far not reduced the incidence of stent restenosis. The aim of this study was to assess the expansion of the Multi-Link (ML) Frontier™ stent in human and porcine coronary arteries to provide the cardiologist with useful in-vitro information for stent implantation and selection. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Nine ML Frontier™ stents were implanted in seven human autopsy heart samples with known coronary artery disease and five ML Frontier™ stents were implanted in five porcine hearts. Proximal, distal and side branch diameters (PD, DD, SBD, respectively), corresponding opening areas (PA, DA, SBA) and the mean stent length (L) were assessed by micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). PD and PA were significantly smaller in human autopsy heart samples than in porcine heart samples (3.54±0.47 mm vs. 4.04±0.22 mm, p = 0.048; 10.00±2.42 mm(2) vs. 12.84±1.38 mm(2), p = 0.034, respectively) and than those given by the manufacturer (3.54±0.47 mm vs. 4.03 mm, p = 0.014). L was smaller in human autopsy heart samples than in porcine heart samples, although data did not reach significance (16.66±1.30 mm vs. 17.30±0.51 mm, p = 0.32), and significantly smaller than that given by the manufacturer (16.66±1.30 mm vs. 18 mm, p = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Micro-CT is a feasible tool for exact surveying of dedicated stent systems and could make a contribution to the development of these devices. The proximal diameter and proximal area of the stent system were considerably smaller in human autopsy heart samples than in porcine heart samples and than those given by the manufacturer. Special consideration should be given to the stent deployment procedure (and to the follow-up) of dedicated stent systems, considering final intravascular ultrasound or optical coherence tomography to visualize (and if necessary optimize) stent expansion

Cascade control algorithm of test bench for studying loadsensing electrohydraulic steering systems

The paper presents the design and synthesis of a three-loop cascade control system with a digital PI controller intended for installation in a test bench for load-sensing electrohydraulic steering units. The structure and layout of both the hydraulic system and the control system are shown. The cascade control system consists of three controllers for measurable variables: proportional spool valve position, steering velocity and steering cylinder position. The developed control algorithm is embedded into a 32-bit microcontroller for mobile applications. Experimental studies have been carried out to present the performance of the entire electrohydraulic system. The developed control algorithm will serve as a basis for further study of the system with advanced control techniques implementable in low speed mobile machines

LQG Control of an Open Circuit Axial Piston Pump

In recent years, the development of hydraulic variable displacement axial piston machines has been focused in two main directions: improvement of their construction and improvement of their displacement control methods. The goal of both directions is to increase the efficiency of the machines. Increasing their efficiency is key to improving the efficiency of the entire hydraulic system, whether they are used as pumps or hydraulic motors. This motivates the present work, which essentially contains a developed embedded control system designed for a known type of open circuit axial piston pump. The developed solution is implemented on a laboratory test rig. A detailed description of the hydraulic system in the context of pump displacement control is presented, as well as the developed system architecture for its control. The control system is based on a linear-quadratic Gaussian (LQG) controller. The controller is synthesized on the basis of a model obtained by means of identification based on experimental data. The designed controller is validated through experimental studies, enabling the analysis of its performance

Rapid Prototyping of <i>H∞</i> Algorithm for Real-Time Displacement Volume Control of Axial Piston Pumps

A system for the rapid prototyping of real-time control algorithms for open-circuit variable displacement axial-piston pumps is presented. In order to establish real-time control, and communication and synchronization with the programmable logic controller of an axial piston pump, the custom CAN communication protocol is developed. This protocol is realized as a Simulink® S-function, which is a part of main Simulink® model. This model works in real-time and allows for the implementation of rapid prototyping of various control strategies including advanced algorithms such as H∞ control. The aim of the algorithm is to achieve control system performance in the presence of various load disturbances with an admissible control signal rate and amplitude. In contrast to conventional systems, the developed solution suggests using an embedded approach for the prototyping of various algorithms. The obtained results show the advantages of the designed H∞ controller that ensure the robustness of a closed-loop system in the presence of significant load disturbances. These type of systems with displacement volume regulation are important for industrial hydraulic drive systems with relatively high power

Cascade control algorithm of test bench for studying loadsensing electrohydraulic steering systems

The paper presents the design and synthesis of a three-loop cascade control system with a digital PI controller intended for installation in a test bench for load-sensing electrohydraulic steering units. The structure and layout of both the hydraulic system and the control system are shown. The cascade control system consists of three controllers for measurable variables: proportional spool valve position, steering velocity and steering cylinder position. The developed control algorithm is embedded into a 32-bit microcontroller for mobile applications. Experimental studies have been carried out to present the performance of the entire electrohydraulic system. The developed control algorithm will serve as a basis for further study of the system with advanced control techniques implementable in low speed mobile machines

LQG Control of an Open Circuit Axial Piston Pump

In recent years, the development of hydraulic variable displacement axial piston machines has been focused in two main directions: improvement of their construction and improvement of their displacement control methods. The goal of both directions is to increase the efficiency of the machines. Increasing their efficiency is key to improving the efficiency of the entire hydraulic system, whether they are used as pumps or hydraulic motors. This motivates the present work, which essentially contains a developed embedded control system designed for a known type of open circuit axial piston pump. The developed solution is implemented on a laboratory test rig. A detailed description of the hydraulic system in the context of pump displacement control is presented, as well as the developed system architecture for its control. The control system is based on a linear-quadratic Gaussian (LQG) controller. The controller is synthesized on the basis of a model obtained by means of identification based on experimental data. The designed controller is validated through experimental studies, enabling the analysis of its performance

GA-tuning of Multivariable PID Controller for Electrohydraulic Load-Sensing Servo System

The main purpose of this article is to present the design, optimal setting and experimental study of a multivariable PID controller supposed for electrohydraulic power steering system with load-sensing function. The set of the controller is performed through an optimization procedure based on a genetic algorithm. The PID controller is embedded into a microcontroller for mobile machinery used in laboratory test rig for investigation of an electrohydraulic servo steering system. Results obtained in conditions of physical experiment and numerical simulation with the optimally tuned PID controller are presented. An analysis of the control performance, as well as some features of the used method for setting the PID controller

Comparison of Model Predictive Control (MPC) and Linear-Quadratic Gaussian (LQG) Algorithm for Electrohydraulic Steering Control System

The paper compares the performance of two embedded controllers applied in electrohydraulic steering systems – model predictive controller (MPC) and linear-quadratic Gaussian (LQG) controller with Kalman filtering for state estimation. Both controllers are designed on the basis of single input multiple output “black box” model obtained via identification approach. The controllers are implemented into industrial logic controller for mobile applications and their workability is experimentally checked with a laboratory model of a steering system for non-road mobile machinery. The results corresponding to investigation of performance of the closed-loop system are presented