Compliant electrode for emg endotracheal tube
AssigneeMedtronic Xomed, Inc.
InventorsWenjeng Li, Dwayne S. Yamasaki
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 a first cuff and a second cuff. Conductive ink electrodes are formed on an exterior surface of the first cuff. The conductive ink electrodes are configured to receive the EMG signals from the laryngeal muscles when the endotracheal tube is placed in a trachea of the patient. At least one conductor is coupled to the conductive ink electrodes and is configured to carry the EMG signals received by the conductive ink electrodes to a processing apparatus.
Claims21
An apparatus for monitoring EMG signals of a patient, comprising:
- an endotracheal tube;
- a conduit extending along the endotracheal tube;
- a first cuff having an exterior surface defining a first diameter and fluidly coupled to the conduit, the first cuff exhibiting a first compliance such that the first diameter expands to a first distance when pressurized fluid is within the interior conduit;
- a second cuff having an exterior surface defining a second diameter, positioned distal the first cuff and fluidly coupled to the conduit, the second cuff exhibiting a second compliance equal to the first compliance and defined such that the second diameter expands to a second distance greater than the first distance when pressurized fluid is within the conduit;
- and
- conductive ink electrodes formed on the exterior surface of the first cuff.
A method of monitoring EMG signals of a patient, comprising:
- providing a tube having a conduit extending along the tube;
- providing an electrode cuff having an exterior surface defining an electrode cuff diameter and an electrode cuff compliance;
- positioning conductive ink electrodes on the exterior surface of the electrode cuff;
- providing a anchoring cuff having an exterior surface defining a anchoring cuff diameter and a anchoring cuff compliance, the anchoring cuff compliance being equal to the electrode cuff compliance;
- and
- providing pressurized fluid through the conduit to inflate the electrode cuff and the anchoring cuff such that the electrode cuff diameter is less than the anchoring cuff diameter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.