Method and apparatus for determining cardiac performance in a patient with a conductance catheter

A method for determining cardiac performance in a patient comprising the steps of:

• measuring conductance and blood volume in a heart chamber of the patient and acquiring a measurement of admittance with a plurality of electrodes disposed in the patient and in communication with the heart chamber;
• and
• determining instantaneous volume of the ventricle based on measurement of admittance to identify mechanical strength of the chamber with a processor, the processor in communication with the electrodes.

An apparatus for determining cardiac performance in a patient comprising:

• a plurality of electrodes adapted to be placed in the patient and in communication with a heart chamber of the patient for measuring blood volume in the heart chamber of the patient and acquiring a measurement of admittance;
• and
• a processor for determining instantaneous blood volume of the ventricle based on measurement of admittance magnitude to identify mechanical strength of the chamber, the processor in communication with the electrodes.