ELECTRICAL POWER AMPLIFIER FOR CONTINUOUS CARDIAC OUTPUT MONITORING

摘要

A continuous cardiac output monitor includes a general-purpose monitoring console (32) with local display (34) and communications facilities, and a module (40) removably interfacing with the console (32) to configure the latter for performing continuous cardiac output monitoring. The module (40) includes a switch-mode high efficiency power amplifier (60) for providing electrical heating power at a selected voltage, frequency, and wave form to a heating element (50) of a continuous cardiac output monitoring catheter (16), which catheter (16) at a distal end portion thereof is immersed in the blood flow of a patient (10). The catheter (16) effects a temperature transient in the patient's blood flow by the controlled application of electrical resistance heating utilizing electrical power from the power amplifier (60), and this temperature transient is sensed and used to derive a value for the patient's cardiac output.