Method and apparatus for assessing cardiovascular performance
AssigneeRobin Medical Technologies
InventorErez Nevo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of assessing the cardiovascular performance of a subject, by: applying periodically, in synchronism with every n.sup.th heart cardiac cycle wherein "n" is at least two, external pressure pulsations on a peripheral organ of the subject sufficient to alter ventricular loading; acquiring data representative of the ventricular pressure, and data representative of the ventricular volume, of the subject's heart over a plurality of heart cardiac cycles; and utilizing such data for assessing the cardiovascular performance of the subject. Ventricular loading may be altered by impeding ventricular ejection (changing afterload), and/or by altering venous return to the heart (changing preload).
Claims18
A method of assessing the cardiovascular performance of a subject, comprising:
- applying periodically, for at least one complete heart cardiac cycle and in synchronism with every n.sup.th heart cardiac cycle wherein "n" is at least two, external pressure pulsations, by a pressure applicator applied externally of the subject's body, on a peripheral organ of the subject sufficient to alter ventricular loading;
- acquiring data representative of the ventricular pressure, and data representative of the ventricular volume, of the subject's heart over a plurality of heart cardiac cycles;
- and utilizing said data for assessing the cardiovascular performance of the subject.
Apparatus for assessing the cardiovascular performance of a subject, comprising:
- a pressure applicator and a control therefor for applying periodically, for at least one complete heart cardiac cycle and in synchronism with every n.sup.th heart cardiac cycle wherein "n" is at least two, external pressure pulsations on a peripheral organ of the subject sufficient to alter ventricular loading;
- sensors for sensing parameters of the subject varying with the left-ventricular blood pressure and the left-ventricular volume of the subject's heart, and for producing outputs corresponding to said sensed parameters;
- and a data processor for processing the outputs of said sensors and for producing data representative of the left-ventricular blood pressure and the left-ventricular volume of the subject's heart over a plurality of heart cardiac cycles and useful in assessing the cardiovascular performance of the subject.
Apparatus for assessing the cardiovascular performance of a subject, comprising:
- a pressure applicator and a control therefor for applying periodically, for at least one complete heart cardiac cycle and in synchronism with every n.sup.th heart cardiac cycle wherein "n" is at least two, external pressure pulsations on a peripheral organ of the subject sufficient to alter ventricular loading;
- a pressure sensor for sensing the aortic pressure of the subject;
- a flow rate sensor for sensing the aortic flow rate of the subject;
- and a data processor for processing outputs from the pressure sensor and flow rate sensor, and for producing data representative of the ventricular pressure, and data representative of the ventricular volume, of the subject's heart over a plurality of heart cardiac cycles, which data useful in assessing the cardiovascular performance of the subject.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.