Abstract An apparatus and method for detecting myocardial ischemia in a subject monitors the systemic vascular resistance of the subject and detects the presence of myocardial ischemia when the systemic vascular resistance increases by at least sixty percent over a base line value. Particular apparatus describe providing a measurement corresponding to the systemic vascular resistance of the cardiovascular system. A particular invasive pressure measuring apparatus uses a flexible catheter tube insertable into the artery of the subject and a micro-manometer embedded into the outer face of the wall of the catheter tube. The outer face of the embedded micro-manometer is directly exposed to the blood in an artery and the inner face of the embedded micro-manometer is covered by the inner face of the catheter tube wall.
A method for detecting myocardial ischemia in a subject comprising the steps of: monitoring the systemic vascular resistance of the subject; and detecting the presence of myocardial ischemia in a subject when the monitored systemic vascular resistance of the subject increases by at least 60%, thereby indicating the presence of myocardial ischemia.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
52 words
A method for detecting myocardial ischemia in a subject comprising the steps of: monitoring the systemic vascular resistance of the subject; and detecting the presence of myocardial ischemia in a subject when the monitored systemic vascular resistance of the subject increases by at least 60%, thereby indicating the presence of myocardial ischemia.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
125 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring step comprises the steps of: A. detecting the arterial pressure of the subject and generating in response thereto a blood pressure signal having a waveform in accordance with the detected arterial pressure; B. differentiating said blood pressure signal to produce a dP/dt signal having a waveform varying in accordance with the rate at which the blood pressure signal varies; C. detecting the peak of said dP/dt signal to determine the peak dP/dt; D. determining a value which is substantially equal to the arterial pressure at the time of said peak dP/dt; E. dividing said latter value by said peak dP/dt signal, which thereby produces a measurement corresponding to the systemic vascular resistance of said cardiovascular system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein the pressure of the femoral artery is detected.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said monitoring step includes the step of detecting the pressure of the femoral artery.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus for detecting myocardial ischemia in a subject comprising: monitoring means for monitoring the systemic vascular resistance of the subject, and indicator means for detecting the presence of myocardial ischemia in the subject increases by at least 60%, thereby indicating the presence of myocardial ischemia in the subject.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus for detecting myocardial ischemia in a subject comprising: monitoring means for monitoring the systemic vascular resistance of the subject, and indicator means for detecting the presence of myocardial ischemia in the subject increases by at least 60%, thereby indicating the presence of myocardial ischemia in the subject.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
133 words
The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said monitoring means comprises: A. means for detecting the arterial pressure of the subject and for generating in response thereto a blood pressure signal having a waveform varying in accordance with the detected arterial pressure; B. means for differentiating said blood pressure signal to produce a dP/dt signal having a waveform varying in accordance with the rate at which the blood pressure signal varies; C. means for detecting the peak of said dP/dt signal to determine the peak dP/dt; D. means for determining a value which is substantially equal to the arterial pressure at the time of said peak dP/dt; and E. means for dividing said latter value by said peak dP/dt, thereby producing a measurement corresponding to the systemic vascular resistance of said cardiovascular system.