Method and Apparatus for Determining Cardiac Performance in a Patient with a Conductance Catheter

摘要

An apparatus for determining cardiac performance in the patient involving a conductance catheter ( 12 ) for measuring conductance and blood volume in a heart chamber of the patient. The apparatus includes a processor ( 14 ) for determining instantaneous volume of the ventricle by applying a non-linear relationship between the measured conductance and the volume of blood in the heart chamber to identify mechanical strength of the chamber. The processor ( 14 ) is in communication with the conductance catheter ( 12 ).