Methods and devices for determining a position of an endotracheal tube

A method of positioning an endotracheal tube within a trachea of a patient, the method comprising:

• inserting an endotracheal tube into a pharynx of the patient, the endotracheal tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen between the proximal end and the distal end;
• moving the endotracheal tube distally such that the distal end of the endotracheal tube is positioned within a tracheal lumen of the patient or an esophageal lumen of the patient;
• inflating an airway occlusion cuff located towards the distal end of the endotracheal tube;
• detecting vocal cords(s) surrounding the endotracheal tube with at least one sensor supported by the endotracheal tube when the endotracheal tube is positioned within the tracheal lumen, the at least one sensor comprising at least one infrared emitter and at least one detector;
• communicating the data regarding the detected vocal cord(s) from the at least one sensor to a signal processing unit;
• producing data representing the surface of the detected vocal cords(s),
• identifying, using a signal processor, the detected vocal cords(s), and
• determining a distance between the detected vocal cords(s) and a known point on the endotracheal tube.

An endotracheal system, comprising:

• an elongate tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween, the elongate tube configured to be positioned in a trachea;
• an airway occlusion cuff located closer to the distal end of the elongate tube than the proximal end of the elongate tube;
• and
• a sensor array extending circumferentially around an outer surface of the elongate tube and extending along a length of the elongate tube proximal of the airway occlusion cuff, the sensor array comprising at least one infrared emitter and at least one phototransistor;
• the sensor array being configured to detect vocal cord(s) and produce sensor data representing the detected vocal cords(s) when the elongate tube is positioned within the trachea;
• and
• a signal processing unit being configured to receive sensor data and identify the detected vocal cords(s).

An endotracheal system comprising:

• an endotracheal tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen between the proximal end and the distal end, the endotracheal tube configured to be positioned in a trachea;
• means supported by the endotracheal tube for detecting vocal cords(s) comprising at least at least one infrared emitter and at least one detector;
• means for identifying the vocal cords(s) when the endotracheal tube is positioned within the trachea;
• and
• means for determining a distance between the identified vocal cords(s) and a known point on the endotracheal tube.