Endotracheal tube apparatus
AssigneeMedtronic Xomed, Inc.
InventorDavid C. Hacker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for monitoring EMG signals of a patient's laryngeal muscles includes an endotracheal tube having an exterior surface and a first location configured to be positioned at the patient's vocal folds. A first electrode is formed on the exterior surface of the endotracheal tube substantially below the first location to receive EMG signals primarily from below the vocal folds. A second electrode is formed on the exterior surface of the endotracheal tube substantially above the first location to receive EMG signals primarily from above the vocal folds. The first and second electrodes are configured to receive the EMG signals from the laryngeal muscles when the endotracheal tube is placed in a trachea of the patient.
Claims20
An apparatus for monitoring electromyographic (EMG) signals of a patient's laryngeal muscles, comprising:
- an endotracheal tube having an exterior surface and a first location configured to be positioned at the patient's vocal folds;
- and
- only three conductive electrodes printed on the exterior surface;
- wherein the only three conductive electrodes extend longitudinally along a length of the endotracheal tube and are laterally spaced apart to substantially surround a circumference of the endotracheal tube;
- wherein one conductive electrode of the only three conductive electrodes is longitudinally staggered with the other conductive electrodes of the only three conductive electrodes.
An apparatus, comprising:
- an endotracheal tube having an exterior surface and a first location configured to be positioned at the patient's vocal folds;
- an inflatable cuff connected to the endotracheal tube near a distal end of the endotracheal tube;
- and
- only three electrodes printed on the exterior surface and positioned proximal to the inflatable cuff;
- wherein the only three electrodes are laterally offset to substantially surround a circumference of the endotracheal tube, and wherein at least a subset of the three electrodes is configured to receive electromyographic (EMG) signals from laryngeal muscles when the subset is positioned in contact with a trachea of a patient;
- wherein one conductive electrode of the only three conductive electrodes is longitudinally staggered with the other conductive electrodes of the only three conductive electrodes.
A method of monitoring electromyographic (EMG) signals of a patient's laryngeal muscles, comprising:
- providing an endotracheal tube having an exterior surface and only three conductive electrodes printed on the exterior surface, wherein the three conductive electrodes are laterally offset to substantially surround a circumference of the endotracheal tube;
- positioning the endotracheal tube in a trachea of the patient with at least a subset of the three conductive electrodes in contact with the trachea;
- and
- sensing the EMG signals from the laryngeal muscles with at least the subset of the three conductive electrodes when the endotracheal tube is positioned in the trachea of the patient;
- wherein one conductive electrode of the only three conductive electrodes is longitudinally staggered with the other conductive electrodes of the only three conductive electrodes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.