Patent ID: 6575927
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A method of determining the performance of a vessel which communicates blood between two locations of a patient, the method comprising:diverting blood from the vessel at a diversion point to obtain a flow of diverted blood in a 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; determining a flow rate QB of the diverted blood through the conduit; 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; and observing the at least one signal to obtain information about the upstream flow rate QA and determine the performance of the vessel.