Patent Document ID: 4676253
Application ID: 06756805
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A method for determining the cardiac index of a living being, the method comprising: sensing a series of electrocardiac first signals sensed at a first location on the skin surface of the living being adjacent to the heart for use as synchronizing and timing signals; sensing a series of second signals sensed at a second location on the skin surface of the living being that are related to instantaneous blood flow; processing the first signals to obtain an average heart rate value by averaging the durations between successive "R" lines of each electrocardiac wave; processing the second signals to obtain a blood flow waveform signal corresponding to instantaneous blood flow at the second location; measuring the time from each "R" line signal to a predetermined point on the corresponding blood flow waveform signal to determine at least one corresponding pulse delay timing value; and processing the average heart rate value and the pulse delay timing value to obtain a final value representing the cardiac index of the living being.