The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 29, 1992
Filed:
Aug. 12, 1991
James P Nelson, Shoreview, MN (US);
Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc., St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
A thermocouple-based cardiac blood flow sensor for allowing discrimination between physiologic rhythms and pathologic rhythms of the heart. The sensor is built on a cardiac catheter or lead from a union of two dissimilar metals. The thermocouple junction is radially activated by blood flowing past the junction while situated in a blood vessel such as the superior vena cava. Temperature differences measured at axially displaced sites are related to blood flow and blood velocity. The thermocouple-based blood flow sensor is easy to use and unobtrusive. A further feature incorporates electrodes whereby impedance plethysmography can be used to determine blood vessel cross-sectional area so that blood flow through vessels which change in size can be assessed.