Device for determining the flow rate of a blood flow, and cardiovascular assist device
First Claim
1. An implantable cardiovascular assist device providing in vivo determination of the blood flow rate in a bloodstream of a patient, the device including:
- a. an elongated electrode line including one or more stimulation electrodes for delivering stimulation pulses to a heart,b. multiple sets of microelectrodes configured for placement in the bloodstream,(1) the sets of microelectrodes being positioned spaced apart on the surface of the electrode line separate and spaced from the one or more stimulation electrodes,(2) each set of microelectrodes including at least one excitation electrode and at least one measuring electrode, each excitation electrode being spaced from one or more of the measuring electrodes by an elongated gap which is narrower than the electrode lengths of the spaced excitation and measuring electrodes, with the gap and the electrode lengths being measured along an axis bisecting the electrodes,c. an electrical power source connected to the excitation electrodes, the power source being configured to provide excitation energy,d. a signal detector wherein;
(1) each set of microelectrodes is independently connected to the signal detector, whereby each set delivers independently obtained measured signals to the signal detector, and(2) in the presence of the excitation energy, the signal detector detects an electrical measured signal at the measuring electrodes resulting from the blood flow, ande. a signal evaluation device in communication with the signal detector, the signal evaluation device being configured to determine the blood flow rate on the basis of the measured signal.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device for the in vivo determination of the blood flow rate in a patient'"'"'s blood vessel includes a microelectrode arrangement provided for placement in the blood vessel, an electrical power source which provides excitation energy having physiologically harmless parameters for obtaining a measured signal, a signal detector for detecting an electrical measured signal resulting from the blood flow in the presence of the excitation energy at measuring electrodes of the microelectrode arrangement, and a signal evaluation device, connected to the signal detector, for determining the blood flow rate on the basis of the measured signal.
21 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An implantable cardiovascular assist device providing in vivo determination of the blood flow rate in a bloodstream of a patient, the device including:
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a. an elongated electrode line including one or more stimulation electrodes for delivering stimulation pulses to a heart, b. multiple sets of microelectrodes configured for placement in the bloodstream, (1) the sets of microelectrodes being positioned spaced apart on the surface of the electrode line separate and spaced from the one or more stimulation electrodes, (2) each set of microelectrodes including at least one excitation electrode and at least one measuring electrode, each excitation electrode being spaced from one or more of the measuring electrodes by an elongated gap which is narrower than the electrode lengths of the spaced excitation and measuring electrodes, with the gap and the electrode lengths being measured along an axis bisecting the electrodes, c. an electrical power source connected to the excitation electrodes, the power source being configured to provide excitation energy, d. a signal detector wherein; (1) each set of microelectrodes is independently connected to the signal detector, whereby each set delivers independently obtained measured signals to the signal detector, and (2) in the presence of the excitation energy, the signal detector detects an electrical measured signal at the measuring electrodes resulting from the blood flow, and e. a signal evaluation device in communication with the signal detector, the signal evaluation device being configured to determine the blood flow rate on the basis of the measured signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 25, 26)
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18. A cardiac pacemaker and/or defibrillator including:
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a. an elongated electrode line having a line surface bearing; (1) one or more stimulation electrodes for delivering stimulation pulses to a heart, (2) one or more excitation electrodes, each excitation electrode being a microelectrode; i. spaced from each stimulation electrode, and ii. in communication with an electrical power source configured to provide excitation energy to the excitation electrode, (3) one or more measuring electrodes, each measuring electrode being a microelectrode; i. spaced from each stimulation electrode, ii. spaced from each excitation electrode by a gap which is narrower than the electrode lengths of the spaced measuring and excitation electrodes, with the gap and electrode lengths being measured along an axis bisecting the measuring and excitation electrodes, and iii. in communication with a signal detector, wherein in the presence of the excitation energy, the signal detector detects an electrical measured signal at the measuring electrode resulting from any blood flow adjacent the measuring electrode, and (4) spacers extending outwardly from the line surface, whereby the spacers space the line surface at a distance from a wall of a blood vessel when the electrode line is inserted into the blood vessel; b. a signal evaluation device in communication with the signal detector, the signal evaluation device being configured to determine the blood flow rate adjacent one or more of the measuring electrodes on the basis of the measured signal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification