Patent ID: 6336902
Filing Date: 2002-01-08
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
In a cardiovascular flow measuring system comprising means for providing a cold injectate fluid from a supply of said cold injectate fluid, a conduit through which said cold injectate fluid is delivered in a known amount from said supply into a patient's blood vessel, means for sensing a resultant change in the temperature of the patient's blood, said means for sensing comprising a temperature sensor, and means for determining the circulatory blood flow rate, the improvement which comprises:a disposable housing defining a through lumen for conducting injectate fluid therethrough; a disposable thermally conductive enclosure hermetically sealingly joined to the housing and projecting transversely into said lumen to be in heat transfer association with injectate fluid conducted through said lumen; and a reusable temperature sensor removably installed in said enclosure, said sensor providing a signal corresponding accurately to the temperature of the injectate fluid conducted through said lumen.