NONINVASIVE MONITORING OF CARDIAC PERFORMANCE

摘要

Method and apparatus (10) for noninvasively determining cardiac performanceparameters including lengths of systolic time intervals,contractility index, pulse amplitude ratios while performing the Valsalvamaneuver, cardiac output index, and a pulse wave velocity index.An esophageal catheter (20) having at least one balloon (28.2) is insertedinto the esophagus and pressurized and positioned adjacent theaortic arch (AA) to sense aortic pressure. The effects of aortic pressure onthe balloon (28.2) are utilized to determine at least one of thecardiac performance parameters. The catheter may include a second balloon(28.1) which is spaced from the aortic balloon a distance suchthat when the second balloon is in a position adjacent the left atrium (LA) tosense left atrial pressure the aortic balloon is in a positionadjacent the aortic arch (AA) to sense aortic pressure, this distance beingrelated to the distance between the left atrium and aortic arch inmost adult persons. This apparatus may be used in combination with an ECG (18)and/or an automatic sphygmomanometer (21).