Integrated multimodal aspiration detection and intubation placement verification system and method

Abstract

A method of aspiration detection and intubation placement verification for an endotracheal tube comprises: Attempting to intubate the patient with an endotracheal tube; Providing a multimodal aspiration detection and intubation placement verification system for an endotracheal tube having a housing and sensors within the housing, wherein the sensors include at least i) a sensor for a first gastric acid, and ii) a sensor for a second gastric acid different from the first gastric acid; Coupling the housing to the endotracheal tube whereby patient exhalation can flow through an internal passage of the housing, wherein the sensors within the housing come into contact with the patient exhalation; and Utilizing the sensor output for at least one of Detecting aspiration and to verification of intubation placement. The sensors include an electric chemical sensor array which can detect odor molecules at concentrations of less than 10 parts per billion in the gas phase.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.