EXTERNAL BLOOD PRESSURE SENSOR APPARATUS AND METHOD

摘要

This invention is an apparatus and method for measuring the blood pressure of a patient with a permanent or temporary cardiac assist device throughout an entire cardiac cycle by partially filling the inflatable chamber (10) of the cardiac assist device operatively disposed with respect to an aorta with pressurized fluid, and using the partially filled chamber (10) as a transducer. An external pressure sensor (36) is located in a drive unit (18) connected to the inflatable chamber (10). The drive unit (18) controls, monitors, and stores the fluid pressure with respect to the inflatable chamber (10). When isolated from a pressurized fluid reservoir (30, 44) the pressure in the inflatable chamber (10) corresponds to the current blood pressure of the patient through the cardiac cycle. The inflatable chamber (10) is preferably defined by a flexible membrane.