Implantable Blood Flow Measurement Techniques for Humans

A wide range of blood flow measurement techniques were reviewed in regard to development of an implantable blood flow sensor. These include indicator methods and techniques to measure velocity and stroke volume. Most techniques were found to be unsuitable for implantable use in humans. The intracardiac impedance method was favored, though significant methodological obstacles remain.

I. Introduction

This paper reviews current techniques for measuring blood flow in regard to measuring cardiac output with an implanted device. While blood flow is routinely found both in humans and animals using invasive nonimplantable sensors, the challenge is to develop reliable methods for implantable blood flow sensing in humans. Existing techniques, while effective in hospital or animal research settings, are generally undesirably invasive, making them unsuitable for use in humans.