APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MONITORING PERFORMANCE OF MINIMALLY INVASIVE DIRECT CARDIAC COMPRESSION

摘要

The present invention provides devices (10) and methods for monitoring performance of minimally invasive direct cardiac massage. In particular, the present invention provides devices (10) and methods which greatly facilitate proper performance of minimally invasive direct cardiac compression. Devices (10) according to the present invention may comprise a handle (20), having a proximal end and a distal end, a structure (16) attached to a distal end of the handle adapted to contact the pericardium or other heart surface to compress the heart, and a force transducer (30) coupled to the handle (20) and/or the structure (16) to produce a signal which corresponds to an amount of force applied through the handle to the heart. A signal processor (32) receives the force transducer signal and produces an output corresponding to the applied force. A display (34) receives the output of the signal processor (32) and produces a human decipherable indication based on the applied force.