Improved catheter based cardiac output sensor.

摘要

A flexible catheter which is useful for positioning in a blood vessel an electrical sensor used to measure cardiac output. The catheter has a sinuously contoured portion exhibiting shape memory properties which permit it to be transluminally inserted into a blood vessel in a straightened position and released into the normal configuration after positioning. The sensor is positioned relative to the contoured portion such that after positioning the contoured portion prevents the sensor from approaching the blood vessel wall, thereby eliminating artifacts in the output signal from the sensor.