NONINVASIVE MONITORING OF CARDIAC PERFORMANCE

摘要

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