Cardiac output measurement devices and methods

• US 20070167865A1
• 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:
  US11/418,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20070167865A1
• 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 cardiac output measurement device, comprising:

an energy producing element;

a first pair of lead wires configured to transmit electric current to said energy producing element;

a temperature sensing element;

a second pair of lead wires configured to transmit electric current to said temperature sensing element; and

at least one insulation layer configured to electrically insulate each wire of said first and second pairs of lead wires from one another;

wherein said first and second pairs of lead wires are secured in an elongate bundle, said at least one insulation layer provides sufficient structural support to said first and second pairs of lead wires to permit said device to be positioned within vasculature of a patient, and a cross-sectional width of said bundle is less than about 800μ

.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said energy producing element comprises a heating element.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said heating element comprises a heating coil.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said temperature sensing element comprises a thermistor.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said energy producing element is positioned distally of said temperature sensing element on said device.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said energy producing element is exposed from said at least one insulation layer.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one insulation layer comprises an insulation layer for each wire of the first and second pair of lead wires.