Tracheotomy tube-based monitoring systems and methods
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorDavid Conrad
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In one embodiment, a monitoring system includes a monitoring device configured to removably attach to a tracheotomy tube, the monitoring device including a skin sensor configured to detect contact with skin of a patient's neck.
Claims20
A monitoring system for monitoring placement of a tracheotomy tube that has been passed through a tracheostomy formed in the neck of a patient, the system comprising:
- a monitoring device configured to directly and removably attach to the tracheotomy tube, the monitoring device including a skin sensor solely configured to detect the electrical conductivity of the skin of the patient's neck and, therefore, detect whether the sensor is or is not in direct contact with skin of a patient's neck, wherein the tracheotomy tube is correctly placed when such direct contact is detected.
A monitoring device for monitoring placement of a tracheotomy tube that has been passed through a tracheostomy formed in the neck of a patient, the device comprising:
- a housing configured to directly and removably attach to a flange of the tracheotomy tube such that the monitoring device is solely supported by the flange;
- a skin sensor provided on the housing that is solely configured to detect the electrical conductivity of the skin of the patient's neck and, therefore, detect whether the sensor is or is not in direct contact with skin of a patient's neck;
- and
- a microcontroller contained within the housing that is configured to continually receive from the skin sensor signals that indicate that the skin sensor either is or is not in direct contact with the patient's skin and to generate an alert if a signal is received from the skin sensor that indicates the skin sensor is not in direct contact with the patient's skin.
A method for monitoring placement of a tracheotomy tube that has been passed through a tracheostomy formed in the neck of a patient, the method comprising:
- directly and removably attaching a single integrated monitoring device to a flange of the tracheotomy tube such that the monitoring device is solely supported by the flange;
- inserting the tracheotomy tube through the tracheostomy of the patient;
- detecting whether there is direct physical contact between a skin sensor of the monitoring device and a neck of the patient, the skin sensor being solely configured to detect the electrical conductivity of the skin of the patient's neck and, therefore, detect whether the sensor is or is not in direct physical contact with skin of a patient's neck;
- and
- generating an alert with the monitoring device when the skin sensor senses that the sensor is not in direct physical contact with the skin of the patient's neck.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.