Enhanced pulse doppler flow probe for chronic applications

The laboratory for Aerospace Cardiovascular Research (LACR) is a center for studying the effects of micro-and high-(9Gz) gravitational forces on the cardiovascular system. Research efforts focus on determining pressure-volume-flow relationships of the left/ right heart for altered G-environments. This paper will describe the present version of a pulse Doppler/diameter appliance suitable for chronic implantation. This probe was designed to be used on complaint vessels such as the ascending aorta and pulmonary artery. This probe has enabled LACR to evaluate right/left heart cardiovascular function in chronically instrumented non-human surrogate model during static rotational tilt, NASA KC-135 micro-G parabolas, and high G centrifugation.