Investigation of multi-sensor techniques for cardiac-output measurements in intensive care

Over the past years a number of methods have been developed to monitor the cardiac output. Some of these techniques are rather inaccurate, others are expensive or labour-intensive for the clinical staff in the Intensive Care (IC). In order to avoid the problems with existing systems, three approaches, which make use of multisensors, are being investigated. A series of prototype sensors (for measuring blood-flow velocity, blood pressure and electrodes for blood impedance measurements) have been fabricated and are being tested. Ultrasound transducers are considered for intravascular diameter detection of the blood vessels of interest.