Simple technique for measuring regional contractility by a modified strain gauge arch.

A simple modification of a commercially available gauge arch, namely the addition of pins to effect mechanical couplings to heart muscle rather than suturing, results in an isometric myocardial force sensor which is easy to insert, stable and relatively atraumatic to the myocardium. Compressing the pins by means of a machinist's vernier caliper which is removed after the sensor is implanted, insures controlled muscle stretch. Tests in open-chest dogs show that force sensed by this gauge is little affected by changes in heart rate, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure or aortic pressure, but faithfully reflects the inotropic effects of isoproterenol or propranolol. Thus, the modified strain gauge arch is sensitive to changes in contractility but not to changes in preload or afterload.