TRACHEAL TUBE SENSOR DISPOSED ON PERMEABLE MEMBRANE

• US 20110230742A1
• Filed: 03/17/2010
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Powell, David, Desmond, John, Dowling, Patrick, Coady, Garret, Finneran, Alan, Cleary, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,568,316 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/364
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0833 Measuring rate of oxygen consumption
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0836 Measuring rate of CO2 production
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14503 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors A61B5/1459, A61B5/1464, A61B5/1473, A61B5/1482, A61B5/14865 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1473 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6853 with a balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6885 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/021 operated by electrical means A61M16/202 – A61M16/205 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0434 Cuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0443 Special cuff-wall materials A61M16/0481, A61M16/0422 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0459 one cuff behind another
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0484 : at the distal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0413 : with detectors of CO2 in exhaled gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 : using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/202 : partial carbon oxide pressure, e.g. partial dioxide pressure (P-CO2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/205 : partial oxygen pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/208 : pH-value

Abstract

Various embodiments of an tracheal tube having a sensor coupled to a selectively permeable membrane are provided. In some embodiments, the membrane may be permeable to one or more blood gases and/or blood analytes. Certain embodiments of the endotracheal tube may be capable of deploying the sensor during intubation to sense one or more indicators of blood flow characteristics, such as a level of blood gases and/or blood analytes, in the respiratory tract. Embodiments of the present invention may include positioning of the sensor in a variety of suitable positions with respect to the permeable membrane, such as mounting the sensor to the underside of an inflatable permeable membrane.

Claims

1. A tracheal tube, comprising:

a tubular body having an open distal end for ventilating a patient;

a cuff disposed around the tubular body above the open distal end and configured to be inflated to seal the cuff against a wall of a trachea; and

a sensor coupled to a membrane that is selectively permeable to a blood gas and/or a blood analyte, wherein the sensor is configured to measure a level of the blood gas and/or the blood analyte in the trachea.

2. The tracheal tube of claim 1, wherein the membrane is disposed around the tubular body and is configured to be inflated to deploy the membrane and the sensor against a wall of the trachea.

3. The tracheal tube of claim 2, wherein the cuff comprises the membrane.

4. The tracheal tube of claim 1, comprising a lumen extending along the tubular body between a location on the tracheal tube positioned outside the patient when in use to a location on the tracheal tube positioned inside the patient, and terminating near the sensor.

5. The tracheal tube of claim 4, wherein the lumen is configured to receive one or more conductors to communicatively couple the sensor to at least one of a monitor, a ventilator, a power supply, or an interface circuit.

6. The tracheal tube of claim 1, comprising a second membrane, wherein the sensor is disposed between the membrane and the second membrane.

7. The tracheal tube of claim 1, wherein the membrane is integral with the cuff, and the sensor is disposed on the underside of a wall of the cuff.

8. The tracheal tube of claim 1, comprising a recess disposed in the tubular body, wherein the recess is configured to receive the sensor during intubation and extubation.

9. The tracheal tube of claim 1, wherein the membrane comprises at least one of silicone, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon).

10. A tracheal tube, comprising:

a tubular body having an open distal end for ventilating a patient;

a sealing cuff disposed around the tubular body above the open distal end and configured to be inflated to seal the first cuff against a wall of a trachea;

a deployment cuff disposed around the tubular body and having a membrane that is selectively permeable to a blood gas and/or a blood analyte; and

a sensor mounted on an underside of the membrane of the deployment cuff and configured to deploy to measure a level of the blood gas and/or the blood analyte in the trachea.

11. The tracheal tube of claim 10, comprising a recess disposed in the tubular body, wherein the recess is configured to receive the sensor during intubation and extubation.

12. The tracheal tube of claim 10, comprising a second sealing cuff, the deployment cuff being disposed between the first and second cuffs to form a cavity located between the first and second cuffs, wherein the sensor is configured to measure the blood gas or blood analyte level in the cavity.

13. The tracheal tube of claim 10, wherein the blood gas and/or blood analyte is carbon dioxide, oxygen, pH, or a combination thereof.

14. The tracheal tube of claim 10, wherein the deployment cuff comprises a second membrane and the sensor is disposed between the membrane and the second membrane.

15. A tracheal tube, comprising:

a tubular body having an open distal end for ventilating a patient;

a cuff disposed around the tubular body above the open distal end and configured to be inflated to seal the cuff against a wall of a trachea;

a band disposed circumferentially around the cuff and configured to selectively allow a blood gas and/or a blood analyte to permeate throughout the band; and

a sensor coupled to the band, wherein the sensor is configured to measure a level of the blood gas and/or the blood analyte in the trachea.

16. The tracheal tube of claim 15, wherein the band comprises a diffusive material that is adapted to facilitate the diffusion of the blood gas and/or blood analyte throughout the band to a uniform distribution.

17. The tracheal tube of claim 16, wherein the band is silicone.

18. The tracheal tube of claim 15, wherein the band is a circumferential cavity filled with bicarbonate for sensing a presence or level of carbon dioxide.

19. The tracheal tube of claim 15, comprising a second sensor configured to measure the presence or level of a blood gas or blood analyte distinct from the blood gas or blood analyte the sensor is configured to measure.

20. The tracheal tube of claim 19, wherein the sensor and the second sensor are disposed at distinct radial positions around the circumference of the band.