device for contropulsazione with balloon intraaortico with continuous measurements of left ventricular systolic output

摘要

A counterpulsation device with continuous measurement of the left ventricular stroke volume comprising a composite catheter including inner and outer coaxial lumens (17, 16), as well as an aortic balloon (18) inflatable and deflatable through said outer lumen (16) by means of holes (19) in its wall (20), wherein said catheter bears at its external end a piezoelectric micro-crystal (10), electrically excitable to generate an ultrasound beam and having a central hole for passage of a metal guide wire adapted to insert and position said catheter, said crystal being protected by a small cup (11) of plastic material and connected by means of two conductor connection wires (12, 13) extending within the wall thickness of the inner lumen (17) to a Doppler flowmeter so as to apply thereto the electric output signal generated by said crystal (10) when it is hit by the reflected echo of said ultrasound beam from the particulate elements of the blood, said Doppler flowmeter being adapted to process said output signal both in sound form and in spectral form and to display it on a monitor (15) in combination with the electrocardiographic (ECG) signal and with the systemic arterial pressure (AP).