Techniques are described for estimating a rate of blood flow from a heart,
such as a stroke volume or a cardiac output, as a function of a pressure in the
heart. A pressure monitor may measure pressure values, and identify the times at
which pressure values and valve opening and closing occur. The pressure monitor
may estimate a velocity-time function as a function of the measured pressures and
identified times, and may calculate a velocity-time integral by integrating the
velocity-time function. The pressure monitor may also calculate an estimated velocity-time
integral directly as a function of the measured pressures and the identified times.
The pressure monitor may calculate the stroke volume or cardiac output using the
velocity-time integral. The pressure monitor may control a delivery of therapy
by an implantable medical device as a function of the stroke volume or cardiac output.