Tracheostomy tube monitoring accessory and uses thereof

A device for detecting tracheostomy tube placement, comprising:

• a housing having an inner wall forming a cylindrical channel through the housing, the cylindrical channel having a first opening and a second opening;
• a carbon dioxide sensor embedded in the inner wall of the housing;
• and
• processing circuitry embedded in the housing and configured to
• determine a level of carbon dioxide in airflow through the cylindrical channel based on data from the carbon dioxide sensor,
• generate a waveform representing carbon dioxide levels in the airflow through the cylindrical channel, and
• determine a placement state of a tracheostomy tube that is removably coupled to the first opening of the cylindrical channel based on the waveform representing carbon dioxide levels in the airflow.

A tracheostomy tube, comprising:

• a cannula;
• a flange at a proximal end of the cannula;
• a carbon dioxide sensor embedded in an inner wall of the cannula at the proximal end of the cannula;
• and
• a housing containing processing circuitry that is removably coupled to the flange, wherein
• the processing circuitry is configured to
• determine a level of carbon dioxide in airflow through the cannula based on data from the carbon dioxide sensor,
• generate a waveform representing carbon dioxide levels in the airflow through the cannula, and
• determine a placement state of the tracheostomy tube based on the waveform of carbon dioxide levels in the airflow.