Endotracheal tube apparatus

An apparatus, comprising:

• an endotracheal tube having an exterior surface;
• 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 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.

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.