Inventors:
William M. Swartz - Pittsburgh PA
International Classification:
A61B 812
Abstract:
A method of employing ultrasonic Doppler monitoring of blood flow in a patient's blood vessel includes, providing an ultrasonic transducer operatively associated with an ultrasonic processor by connection through an electrically conductive wire. The ultrasonic transducer-conducer wire assembly is secured to a strip of biologically inert or absorbable material, which is subsequently wrapped into contacting surrounding relationship with the exterior surface of the blood vessel and secured in such position to establish a cuff. The ultrasonic transducer-wire assembly is employed in a Doppler mode to monitor blood flow within the blood vessel. After completion of monitoring the ultrasonic transducer-wire assembly, but not the cuff are removed from the patient. The monitoring cuff is preferably positioned downstream, with respect to the direction of blood flow, of an anastomosis in the blood vessel.