Patent ID: 8337444

Claim:
A system for determining non-invasively at least one cardiovascular parameter of a patient undergoing hemodialysis comprising: a) a dialyzer configured to perform hemodialysis on the patient, wherein the hemodialysis comprises blood removal from and administration of a fluorescent dye to the cardiovascular system of the patient; b) a probe assembly comprising: i) an optical illumination source configured to illuminate the removed blood having the administered fluorescent dye with a first wavelength of light, wherein the illumination causes the fluorescent dye to emit light of a second wavelength, wherein the second wavelength is different than the first wavelength; and ii) at least one optical detector configured to detect the intensity of light, having the second wavelength, that is emitted from the illuminated fluorescent dye, and configured to send a corresponding electronic signal; c) a processor configured to receive the sent electronic signal and to estimate at least one cardiovascular parameter of the patient based on the sent electronic signal; wherein the processor is configured to correct the estimation of the at least one cardiovascular parameter for changes in the blood hematocrit or hemoglobin content of the patient undergoing hemodialysis; and d) a monitoring system configured to monitor the estimated cardiovascular parameter during hemodialysis.