The present invention provides an apparatus and methods for continuousintravascular measurement of whole blood concentration, blood pressure, andpulse pressure.The intravascular catheter incorporates a sensor to measure whole blood soundvelocity,attenuation, backscatter amplitude, and blood flow velocity and alsoincorporates existingtechnologies for multiple physiologic measurements of whole blood. Pulse wavevelocity andwave intensity are derived mathematically for purposes of estimating degree oflocal vasculartone.
