Blood flow measuring apparatus
First Claim
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1. A blood flow measuring apparatus comprising:
- a measuring electrode and a counter electrode adapted for in vivo contact with blood of a patient;
said measuring electrode being ring-shaped and having a size and dimensions adapted to fit within a blood vessel of the patient, and having an inner surface forming an active measuring electrode surface; and
a measuring unit connected to said measuring electrode and to said counter-electrode for measuring an electrical quantity, selected from the group consisting of voltage and current, between said measuring electrode and said counter-electrode, and for determining a flow of blood dependent on said electrical quantity.
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Abstract
A blood flow measuring apparatus has a measuring electrode and a counter-electrode adapted to be brought into contact with the blood of a patient. A measuring unit measures a voltage or a current between the measuring electrode and the counter-electrode and determines the flow of blood therefrom. The measuring electrode is ring-shaped and sized to fit within a blood vessel in the body of the patient. An inner surface of the ring-shaped electrode forms an active measuring electrode surface. The blood flow measuring apparatus is suitable for use in a cardiac pacemaker.
23 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A blood flow measuring apparatus comprising:
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a measuring electrode and a counter electrode adapted for in vivo contact with blood of a patient; said measuring electrode being ring-shaped and having a size and dimensions adapted to fit within a blood vessel of the patient, and having an inner surface forming an active measuring electrode surface; and a measuring unit connected to said measuring electrode and to said counter-electrode for measuring an electrical quantity, selected from the group consisting of voltage and current, between said measuring electrode and said counter-electrode, and for determining a flow of blood dependent on said electrical quantity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A cardiac pacemaker comprising:
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pacing circuitry that generates pacing pulses; an electrode lead adapted for implantation in a blood vessel and adapted for interaction with cardiac tissue to deliver said pacing pulses to said cardiac tissue; and a blood flow measuring apparatus having a measuring electrode and a counter-electrode carried by said lead and adapted for contact with blood of a patient, said measuring electrode being ring-shaped and having a size and dimensions adapted to fit within the blood vessel, and having an inner surface forming an active measuring electrode surface; and a measuring unit electrically connected to said measuring electrode and said counter-electrode via said lead for measuring an electrical quantity, selected from the group consisting of voltage and current, between said measuring electrode and said counter-electrode, and for determining a flow of blood dependent on said electrical quantity.
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Specification