Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Detecting nuclear – electromagnetic – or ultrasonic radiation
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-12
2003-05-20
Jaworski, Francis J. (Department: 3737)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Detecting nuclear, electromagnetic, or ultrasonic radiation
Reexamination Certificate
active
06565513
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of cardiac monitoring and, in particular, discloses a method for utilisation of an external transducer element in ultrasonic cardiac monitoring.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The process of accurate cardiac physiologic monitoring is obviously an important process during acute illness and anaesthesia. In particular, early detection of changes in cardiac function can be critical in the reduction of patient morbidity and mortality.
Current methods of direct cardiac monitoring are expensive, technically difficult to operate and provide for variable results.
One common form of monitoring is the electrocardiographic method which monitors the electrical cardiac activity. Unfortunately, this method only provides for an indirect monitoring of cardiac muscle conductivity and not blood flow. Also currently utilised is an ultrasonic method of cardiac physiologic monitoring utilising 2D transoesophageal echocardiographic ventricular transections. However, this method is invasive, expensive and inaccurate by virtue of its technical difficulty and that only 6 of 16 myocardial segments are imaged at any time. Unfortunately, normal left ventricular myocardial function varies transmurally, transtemporally and intersegmentally and the 2D evaluation of the wall motion requires spatial and temporal integration skills only acquired after a programme of extensive and expensive physician training.
There is therefore a general need for an improved, more convenient form of cardiac physiologic monitoring.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide for an improved form of cardiac physiologic monitoring utilising ultrasound techniques.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of cardiac physiologic monitoring comprising the steps of:
(a) utilising an external ultrasonic transducer element attached to a patient to determine an information signal indicative of blood flow within a patient's heart;
(b) processing the information signal to determine physiologic parameters associated with the heart function.
The physiologic parameters can include at least one of transaortic peak velocity, mean transvalvular pressure gradient, time velocity integral, stroke volume, cardiac output or any other product as an analogue of output.
The method can preferably include monitoring the change in time of the physiologic parameters through continual monitoring of the information signal.
The monitoring step preferably can include determining an alarm state if the parameters are outside a predetermined range.
The external ultrasonic transducer preferably can include an attached handle operative to position the transducer in a predetermined orientation to the patient's heart.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cardiac monitoring system comprising: an external ultrasonic transducer element adapted to be attached to a patient to provide an information signal indicative of blood flow within a patient's heart; computer processing means, interconnected to the transducer element and adapted to process the information signal to determine physiologic parameters associated with the heart.
The physiologic parameters can include at least one of transaortic peak velocity, mean transvalvular pressure gradient, time velocity integral, stroke volume, cardiac output or any other product as an analogue of flow.
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Ihlen et al., “Determination of cardiac output by Doppler echocardiography”, 1984, pp. 54-60.
Jaworski Francis J.
Merchant & Gould P.C.
Uscom Pty Ltd.
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