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Noninvasive electromagnetic blood flowmeter: Theoretical aspects and technical evaluation

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Abstract

A new noninvasive device for measuring pulsatile blood flow is described. This device operates on the same well known principle as the invasive electromagnetic flowmeter. The theoretical aspects are developed from Maxwell's equations to obtain the direct relationship between blood flow rate and measured electrical potentials, which allow calibration in this method. Computerised signal processing is used to purify these potentials from noise and to isolate the pulsatile blood flow signal from physiological artefacts such as the electrocardiogram and ballistocardiogram.In vivo andin vitro experiments have been performed to determine the influences of physical and biological factors on the recorded blood flow curve. Correlation with the invasive electromagnetic device has been established. Application to the measurement of the pulsatile blood flow from human lower limbs is presented.

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Boccalon, H., Lozes, A., Newman, W. et al. Noninvasive electromagnetic blood flowmeter: Theoretical aspects and technical evaluation. Med. Biol. Eng. Comput. 20, 671–680 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02442519

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