Patent ID: 7254946

Claim:
A multi-lumen, multi-purpose cardiac catheter comprising: (a) a multi-lumen main body portion; (b) a plurality of extension tubes, each one of said plurality of extension tubes being connected to a respective lumen of said multi-lumen main body portion; and (c) an interface connecting said multi-lumen main body portion and said plurality of extension tubes, wherein: (d) said multi-lumen main body portion comprises: (i) at least one lumen for holding and supporting fiber optic filaments; (ii) at least one lumen for receiving thermal element connectors; (iii) at least one lumen for receiving a device for temperature measurement; (iv) at least one lumen associated with a balloon mounted at the distal end of said multi-lumen main body portion for assisting in placement of said multi-lumen main body portion in a patient; (v) a port defined by surfaces of one of the lumens of said multi-lumen main body portion, said port for injecting a fluid into a blood stream of a patient; (vi) a fiber optic apparatus including said fiber optic filaments, said fiber optic filaments disposed in said at least one lumen for holding and supporting said fiber optic filaments, and said fiber optic filaments extending from inside said multi-lumen main body portion to a fiber optic coupler associated with the catheter; and (vii) a necked-down portion near the distal end of said multi-lumen main body portion; (e) a temperature measurement apparatus is mounted at the distal end of said multi-lumen main body portion; (f) wiring extends from the temperature measurement apparatus along said multi-lumen main body portion to a housing associated with said multi-lumen main body portion; (g) an external thermal element is mounted on said multi-lumen main body portion near the distal end of said multi-lumen main body portion; and (h) connectors extend from said external thermal element along said multi-lumen main body portion for connection to a thermal element housing at the proximal end of said multi-lumen main body portion, wherein: (i) said external thermal element and said temperature measurement apparatus are operative with an external apparatus for providing a measurement of continuous cardiac output of a patient; (j) said fiber optic apparatus is cooperative with said external apparatus for providing a measurement of mixed venous oxygen saturation of blood of the patient; and (k) said external thermal element is mounted on said necked-down portion.