Apparatus and method for ascertaining cardiac output and other parameters

摘要

Apparatus for ascertaining cardiac output of the heart of a patient comprising a control and display module. A venous probe is inserted into a vein in the forearm of the patient and is coupled into the control and display module and provides an electrical signal representing the dissolved oxygen in the venous blood. An arterial probe is inserted into an artery in the forearm of the patient and is coupled into the control and display module and provides an electrical output signal representing the dissolved oxygen in the arterial blood. The control and display module has a visible display that provides a continuous in vivo cardiac output that utilizes an arterial venous oxygen differential equation which includes an adjustment factor for adjusting for venous blood being sampled rather than mixed venous blood in the pulmonary artery of the patient.