Patent ID: 6709414
Filing Date: 2004-03-23
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A system for determining the performance of a vessel which communicates blood between two locations of a patient, comprising:a conduit in fluid communication with the vessel, the conduit having a diversion point from which blood is diverted from the vessel into the conduit, wherein the vessel has a blood flow rate QA upstream from the diversion point and a blood flow rate QD downstream from the diversion point; means for determining a flow rate QB of the diverted blood through the conduit; and a first sensor in communication with the vessel for generating at least one signal that is a function of the downstream flow rate QD without requiring a cross-sectional area of the vessel, wherein the downstream flow rate QD depends on the determined conduit flow rate QB and the upstream flow rate QA, such that the performance of the vessel can be determined by observing the at least one signal to obtain information about the upstream flow rate QA.