Method of blood flow measurement in arterio-venous hemodialysis shunts by indicator dilution
AssigneeTransonic Systems, Inc.
InventorsNikolai M. Krivitski, Cornelis J. Drost
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method for measuring the blood flow rate within an A-V shunt via indicator dilution techniques. Unknown flow resistance within the A-V shunt are addressed by adjusting a measured flow rate to provide a flow rate within a predetermined margin of error. The calculated flow rate can be rejected based upon flow conditions of the introduced indicator. Different indicator introduction rates can be used to enhance accuracy of the measured flow. The indicator flow path can include a flow restrictor to limit the flow rate of the indicator to below a predetermined value.
Claims29
In a method of calculating an initial blood flow rate in an arterio-venous shunt from an introduced indicator to the initial blood flow, the improvement comprising:
- (a) reducing a measured flow rate in the arterio-venous shunt by a portion of a flow rate of the introduced indicator.
A method of adjusting a measured blood flow rate in an arterio-venous shunt by introducing a thermodilution indicator at a given flow rate into the shunt, the method comprising:
- (a) subtracting a percentage of the given flow rate from the measured blood flow rate.
In a method of determining an initial flow rate in a vessel by an introduced dilution indicator to the initial flow, the improvement comprising:
- (a) reducing a measured flow rate in the vessel by a portion of a flow rate of the introduced dilution indicator.
A method of adjusting a measured flow rate in a vessel, the measured flow rate measured from introducing an indicator at a given flow rate into the vessel, the method comprising:
- (a) subtracting a percentage of the given flow rate from the measured flow rate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.