System for Repetitive Measurements of Cardiac Output in Freely Moving Individuals

Abstract

A system for evaluating the cardiovascular system parameters using indicator dilution and non-invasive or minimally invasive detection and calibration methods are disclosed. Intravascular indicators are stimulated, and emissions patterns detected for computation of cardiac output, cardiac index, blood volume and other indicators of cardiovascular health.

1 ) A cardiac output system for repetitive cardiac output measuring of a freely moving individual comprising: 
 a) a dye calibration and delivery system (CDS) configured to be worn by the individual comprising: 
 i. a calibration station configured to hold at least one calibration cartridge and to draw blood from the individual; and  
 ii. a dye delivery station configured to hold at least one dye delivery cartridge and to administer a predetermined amount of dye to the individual's blood stream.  
   
     
     
         2 ) The system of  claim 1  further comprising hardware and software configured to control the calibration station and the dye delivery station.  
     
     
         3 ) The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cartridge is configured to contain a plurality of separately sealed chambers having different contents.  
     
     
         4 ) The system of  claim 3 , wherein the contents include any one of dye, sterile water or sterile saline.  
     
     
         5 ) The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cartridge is configured to be of a transparent material.  
     
     
         6 ) The system of  claim 1 , wherein the calibration station includes at least one element that is configured to illuminate the dye within the calibration cartridge.  
     
     
         7 ) The system of  claim 1 , wherein the calibration station includes at least one element configured to sense fluorescence intensity transmitted from or reflected by the dye.  
     
     
         8 ) The system of  claim 7 , wherein the CDS is calibrated remotely by an external device based on the sensed fluorescence intensity.  
     
     
         9 ) The system of  claim 8 , wherein the CDS administers the dye to the individual based on received commands from the external device.  
     
     
         10 ) The system of  claim 1 , wherein the CDS is configured to administer the dye at predetermined times.  
     
     
         11 ) The system of  claim 1 , wherein the dye is administered repetitively based on the individual's measured heart rate.  
     
     
         12 ) The system of  claim 1 , wherein the dye is administered while the individual is on an exercise equipment.  
     
     
         13 ) The system of  claim 1 , wherein the CDS is configured to administer a predetermined amount of dye to the individual based on the individual's weight.  
     
     
         14 ) The system of  claim 1 , wherein the dye is indocyanine green (ICG).  
     
     
         15 ) The system of  claim 1 , wherein the CDS is configured to draw blood and/or administer dye to the individual through plurality of onboard attached IV lines.  
     
     
         16 ) The system of  claim 1 , wherein the calibration station is further configured to retain at least one final calibration cartridge.  
     
     
         17 ) The system of  claim 16 , wherein the CDS is configured to draw a final blood sample from the individual into the final calibration cartridge.  
     
     
         18 ) The system of  claim 17 , wherein the CDS is configured to transmit to the external device data related to the concentration of the dye in the final calibration cartridge.  
     
     
         19 ) The system of  claim 17 , wherein the CDS is configured to transmit to the external device data related to blood volume within the individual's cardiovascular system based on the concentration of the dye in the blood sample.  
     
     
         20 ) The system of  claim 17 , wherein the CDS is configured to draw a final blood sample at the end of the repetitive cardiac output measuring process.  
     
     
         21 ) The system of  claim 8 , wherein the CDS is configured to communicate to the external device through a dongle.  
     
     
         22 ) The system of  claim 1 , wherein the CDS is configured to communicate with an any one of PDA, laptop or desktop computer.  
     
     
         23 ) A cardiac output system for repetitive cardiac output measuring of a freely moving individual comprising: 
 a) a dye calibration and delivery system (CDS) configured to be worn by the individual comprising: 
 i. a calibration station configured to hold at least one calibration cartridge and to draw blood from the individual; and  
 ii. a dye delivery station configured to hold at least one dye delivery cartridge and to administer a predetermined amount of dye to the individual's blood stream;  
   b) a sensing device configured to be worn by the individual comprising: 
 i. at least one illumination source configured to rest against the individual's skin and to excite the administered dye in the blood stream; and  
 ii. at least one photodetector configured to rest against the individual's skin and to detect fluorescence intensity reflected from or transmitted by the illuminated dye; and  
   c) an external device configured to wirelessly communicate with at least the CDS and the sensing device, and to determine the cardiac output of the individual based on the detected fluorescence intensity and the information indicative of the concentration of the dye in the blood that was drawn from the individual.    
     
     
         24 ) The system of  claim 23  further comprises hardware and software configured to operate the system and devices a-c.  
     
     
         25 ) The system of  claim 23 , wherein the system further includes a dye mixing station configured to hold the calibration and/or dye delivery cartridges.  
     
     
         26 ) The system of  claim 25 , wherein the cartridges are configured to contain a plurality of separately sealed chambers having different contents.  
     
     
         27 ) The system of  claim 26 , wherein the contents include any one of dye, sterile water or sterile saline.  
     
     
         28 ) The system of  claim 27 , wherein the mixing station is configured to automatically mix the contents of the cartridges by an ultrasonic process.  
     
     
         29 ) The system of  claim 25 , wherein the cartridges are configured to be of a transparent material.  
     
     
         30 ) The system of  claim 23 , wherein the calibration station includes at least one element that is configured to illuminate the calibration cartridge having a dye concentration and sense the fluorescence intensity transmitted from or reflected by the dye.  
     
     
         31 ) The system of  claim 30 , wherein the external device is configured to calibrate the system based on the sensed fluorescence intensity.  
     
     
         32 ) The system of  claim 23 , wherein the external device is configured to enable the CDS remotely to administer the dye to the individual.  
     
     
         33 ) The system of  claim 32 , wherein the CDS is configured to administer the dye at predetermined times.  
     
     
         34 ) The system of  claim 33 , wherein the dye is administered repetitively based on the individual's measured heart rate.  
     
     
         35 ) The system of  claim 34 , wherein the dye is administered while the individual is on an exercise equipment.  
     
     
         36 ) The system of  claim 32 , wherein the CDS is configured to administer a predetermined amount of dye to the individual based on the individual's weight.  
     
     
         37 ) The system of  claim 23 , wherein the dye is indocyanine green (ICG).  
     
     
         38 ) The system of  claim 23 , wherein the CDS is configured to draw blood and/or administer dye to the individual through plurality of onboard attached IV lines.  
     
     
         39 ) The system of  claim 23 , wherein the sensing device is configured to detect fluorescence intensity reflected from or transmitted by the administered dye for a predetermined duration.  
     
     
         40 ) The system of  claim 23 , wherein the calibration station is further configured to retain at least one final calibration cartridge.  
     
     
         41 ) The system of  claim 40 , wherein the CDS is configured to draw a final blood sample from the individual into the final calibration cartridge.  
     
     
         42 ) The system of  claim 41 , wherein the external device is configured to determine the concentration of the dye in the blood sample of the final calibration cartridge.  
     
     
         43 ) The system of  claim 42 , wherein the external device configured to determine the blood volume within the individual's cardiovascular system based on the concentration of the dye in the blood sample.  
     
     
         44 ) The system of  claim 41 , wherein the CDS is configured to draw a final blood sample at the end of a repetitive cardiac output measuring process.  
     
     
         45 ) The system of  claim 23 , wherein the external device is configured to communicate with the CDS and the sensing device through a dongle.  
     
     
         46 ) The system of  claim 45 , wherein the external device is any one of PDA, laptop or desktop computer.  
     
     
         47 ) A computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions to cause a computer or computer-based system to repetitively measure cardiac output of a freely moving individual comprising: 
 a) calibrating and dye delivery of a calibration and delivery system (CDS) that is worn by the individual comprising: 
 i. drawing blood from the individual into a calibration cartridge having a dye concentration; and  
 ii. administering a predetermined amount of dye to the individual's blood stream;  
   b) sensing fluorescence intensity from the administered by a sensing device that is worn by the individual comprising: 
 i. illuminating the administered dye in the blood stream of the individual; and  
 ii. detecting the fluorescence intensity reflected from or transmitted by the illuminated dye; and  
   c) determining the cardiac output of the individual by an external device that communicates wirelessly with at least the CDS and the sensing device, based on the detected fluorescence intensity and the information indicative of the concentration of the dye in the blood that was drawn from the individual.    
     
     
         48 ) The computer-readable medium of  claim 47 , wherein the calibration includes illuminating the calibration cartridge and sensing the fluorescence intensity transmitted from or reflected by the dye.  
     
     
         49 ) The computer-readable medium of  claim 47 , wherein the determining of the cardiac output is based on remotely enabling the CDS to administer the dye to the individual.  
     
     
         50 ) The computer-readable medium of  claim 47 , wherein the administering of the dye is enabled at predetermined times.  
     
     
         51 ) The computer-readable medium of  claim 49 , wherein the administering of the dye is enabled repetitively based on the individual's measured heart rate.  
     
     
         52 ) The computer-readable medium of  claim 50 , wherein the administering of the dye is enabled while the individual is on an exercise equipment.  
     
     
         53 ) The computer-readable medium of  claim 47 , wherein the predetermined amount of dye is calculated based on the individual's weight.  
     
     
         54 ) The computer-readable medium of  claim 47 , wherein the detecting of the fluorescence intensity lasts for a predetermined duration.  
     
     
         55 ) The computer-readable medium of  claim 47  further includes drawing of a final blood sample from the individual into a final calibration cartridge to determine the concentration of the dye in the blood sample.  
     
     
         56 ) The computer-readable medium of  claim 55 , wherein the determining of the cardiac output is to determine the blood volume from the concentration of the dye in the blood sample.  
     
     
         57 ) The computer-readable medium of  claim 55 , wherein the final drawing of blood from the individual is enabled at the end of a repetitive cardiac output measuring process.