Electrode endotracheal tube
OwnerAndrew C. Goldstone, Raymond L. Schettinoinventors
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Abstract
An electrode endotracheal tube for detecting electromyographic signals in the laryngeal muscles and comprising electrode wires running in a direction parallel to the central axis of the endotracheal tube. Each wire is insulated from electrical contact along a first portion of its length and is exposed along a second portion. The exposed portion is at a location on the tube which permits the exposed portion to contact the adjacent laryngeal muscles when the endotracheal tube is inserted into the trachea.
Claims7
An apparatus for monitoring the EMG signals of the laryngeal muscles, said apparatus comprising:
- an endotracheal tube formed from a flexible, nonelectrically conducting material and having a distal end, a proximal end, an exterior surface and a central axis;
- at least one electrode wire composed of electrically conducting material running in a direction parallel to said central axis at a location between said distal end and said proximal end;
- said electrode wire having an electrically insulated first wire portion located between said ends and an electrically uninsulated second wire portion, located between said first wire portion and said distal end, on the exterior surface of said endotracheal tube;
- said second wire portion comprising means for contacting said laryngeal muscles when said endotracheal tube is placed in the trachea for ventilation;
- and
- electrical connecting means for attaching said electrode wire to a machine which processes EMG signals.
A method of detecting EMG signals in laryngeal muscles, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing an endotracheal tube formed from flexible, non-electrically conducting material and having a distal end, a proximal end, an exterior surface and a central axis, said tube having at least one electrode wire of electrically conducting material running in a direction parallel to said central axis at a location between said distal end and said proximal end, said electrode wire having an electrically insulated first portion located between said ends and an electrically uninsulated second portion located between said first wire portion and said distal end of the exterior surface of said endotracheal tube;
- placing said endotracheal tube in the trachea for ventilation;
- contacting a set of laryngeal muscles with said second wire portion when said endotracheal tube is placed in the trachea for ventilation;
- providing a device which processes EMG signals;
- connecting said electrode wire to said processing device;
- and stimulating the laryngeal nerve related to said set of laryngeal muscles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.