Cardiac output measurement devices and methods

• US 20070167861A1
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: George Lopez
• Original Assignee: George Lopez
• Inventors: Lopez, George
• Application Number:
  US11/417,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20070167861A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/549
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/028 by thermo-dilution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/029 Measuring or recording blood output from the heart, e.g. minute volume A61B8/065 takes precedence

Abstract

A device for measurement of cardiac output including an elongate body and a plurality of electrical components, including at least an energy producing element, such as a heating coil, and a temperature sensing element, such as a thermistor. The elongate body includes a plurality of electrical lead wires configured to transmit electric current to the electrical components and at least one insulation layer configured to electrically insulate the plurality of lead wires from one another. Preferably, a cross-sectional size of the elongate body is generally equal to a combination of the cross-sectional size of the plurality of lead wires and a cross-sectional size of the at least one insulation layer. In a preferred method of use, the device is introduced into the radial artery of a patient.

Claims

1. A method of determining a cardiac output of a patient, comprising:

accessing a radial artery of the patient;

positioning a probe within the radial artery and using the probe to introduce a quantity of heat to the blood within the radial artery;

using the probe to measure a temperature change within the radial artery; and

calculating the cardiac output based on the quantity of heat introduced and the temperature change.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the positioning of the probe comprises advancing the probe within the radial artery in a direction opposite of blood flow.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the quantity of heat is introduced at a point upstream of a point at which the temperature change is measured relative to the direction of blood flow.