Thermodilution catheter having a safe, flexible heating element

摘要: A thermodilution catheter having a heating filament which is fabricated so as to be thin and flexible enough avoid contact with the patient's blood. The either inserted in preformed lumen, incorporated into wall of body itself, or wrapped around surrounded by an external sheath. Generally, covering minimally allow heat from transferred surrounding blood increase overall cross-sectional area. Since does not directly touch blood, outer surface may made smooth prevent inducement clots. In addition, maintained at safe temperature forming element material high coefficient resistance, low thermal capacitance conductivity. Preferably, resistance heater greater than 0.001 Ω/Ω-° C. proportional inversely its temperature. By monitoring this application power regulated overheating filament. Calibration techniques are also disclosed whereby memory containing encoded calibration information disposed within connected connector catheter. This include program segment used cardiac output computer calculation program, portion code stored must input before determination can performed. As result these improvements, invention enables performed quite safely accurately clinical setting.