Abstract: A method and apparatus for determination of heart rate, heart stroke volume, heart stroke volume, and cardiac output from thoracic bioimpedance signals and electrocardiograms. A unique bioimpedance electrode arrangement is employed, and the bioimpedance signals are corrected for gain-phase-frequency distortion through the use of sinusoidal test signals through the measuring or detection electrodes to identify distortions and correct for same during actual measurements. Time-derivative bioimpedance signals are employed, the power spectrum calculated, and a novel autoconvolution procedure used to emphasize the heart rate harmonic. Breath waves and other signals not indicative of the patient's cardiocycles are removed. Left ventricular ejection time is derived from the bioimpedance signals, and an improved version of Kubicek's equation is employed to derive heart stroke volume and thus cardiac output.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determination of heart rate, heart stroke volume, and cardiac output from thoracic bioimpedance signals. A unique bioimpedance electrode arrangement is employed, and the bioimpedance signals are corrected for gain-phase-frequency distortion through the use of sinusoidal test signals through the measuring or detection electrodes to identify distortions and correct for same during actual measurements. Time-derivative bioimpedance signals are employed, the power spectrum calculated, and a novel autoconvolution procedure used to emphasize the heart rate harmonic. Breath waves and other signals not indicative of the patient's cardiocycles are removed. Left ventricular ejection time is derived from the bioimpedance signals, and an improved version of Kubicek's equation is employed to derive heart stroke volume and thus cardiac output.

Abstract: A catheter guide system for management of difficult upper airway intubation includes a multilumen catheter having one large central lumen and two smaller lumens defined in the sidewall of the catheter. A tubular adaptor is usable with the catheter when disposed over its proximal end to isolate the proximal end lumen outlets from each other for communication thereof with fluid sources such as oxygen and anesthetic and with monitoring devices.