Apparatus and method for non-invasive monitoring of cardiac performance

摘要

A non-invasive apparatus for measuring cardiac mechanical performance of a patient, the apparatus comprising a pressure applying element ( 301 ) mountable on a limb of the patient for applying pressure high enough to make a segment of an artery within the limb achieve a collapsed state and empty it from blood at least momentarily; at least one of a plurality of sensors coupled to the pressure applying element, sensing mechanical changes corresponding to volumetric changes in the artery as the artery progressively recuperates from its collapsed state; processing unit ( 303 ) communicating with the sensors for receiving output corresponding to the mechanical changes from the sensors and computing factors correlated with blood flow and calculate parameters indicating heart performance.