Devices and methods for determining heart function of a living subject

Abstract

The present invention relates to systems, methods and algorithms for determination of heart pump function and their use in livings subject are described. The invention further relates to complementary parts of such systems that work best in combination. Medical catheters, sheaths and shafts are disclosed that carry an arrangement of integrated digital sensor systems-on-chip (SoC) in the portion thereof residing inside the body. These devices combine at their portion that resides inside the body, the complete chain of signal transduction, signal analog-to-digital conversion and digital signal transmission, and allow to acquire single and multiple physical entities in a single setup. In specific instances the devices integrate wireless data transfer functionality, and in specific instances they integrate wireless energy harvesting for battery-free functionality. The present invention further describes complementary monitor systems that are suited for reception, processing and analysis of data acquired by such catheters/sheaths/shafts to yield a robust assessment of cardiac performance. Moreover, the present invention relates to innovations which render such systems applicable to patients with and without cardiac assist devices.