ENDOTRACHEAL TUBE APPARATUS

• US 20110245647A1
• Filed: 10/01/2010
• Published: 10/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Xomed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Xomed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Yamasaki, Dwayne S., Little, Dave J., Stanislaus, Maria Charles Vijay, Pagotto, Carla A., Li, Wenjeng, Hacker, David C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,688,237 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/380
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00082 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00148 using anchoring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/005 Flexible endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/267 for the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes, bronchoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2673 for monitoring movements of vocal chords
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0209 Special features of electrodes classified in A61B5/24, A61B5/25, A61B5/283, A61B5/291, A61B5/296, A61B5/053
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0215 Silver or silver chloride containing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0217 Electrolyte containing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0261 Strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/062 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/064 using markers A61B5/062 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/065 Determining position of the probe employing exclusively positioning means located on or in the probe, e.g. using position sensors arranged on the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/07 Endoradiosondes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/285 : Endotracheal, oesophageal or gastric probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 : for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/316 : Modalities, i.e. specific diagnostic methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 : Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/394 : specially adapted for electroglottography or electropalatography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6853 : with a balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 : Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0411 : with means for differentiating between oesophageal and tracheal intubation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0425 : Metal tubes
• 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 16/0445 : Special cuff forms, e.g. undulated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0459 : one cuff behind another
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0463 : combined with suction tubes, catheters or the like; Outside connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0488 : Mouthpieces; Means for guiding, securing or introducing the tubes guiding or introducing with laryngoscopes A61B1/267; holding devices on the body A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0825 : with ball-sockets
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0233 : Conductive materials, e.g. antistatic coatings for spark prevention
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0294 : Piezoelectric materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 : Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/332 : Force measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3344 : Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3546 : Range
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 : sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 : using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 : Magnetic identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/065 : Throat; Pharynx
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/08 : Other bio-electrical signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0517 : Esophageal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0519 : Endotracheal electrodes

Abstract

An apparatus for monitoring EMG signals of a patient'"'"'s laryngeal muscles includes an endotracheal tube having an exterior surface and a first location configured to be positioned at the patient'"'"'s vocal folds. A first electrode is formed on the exterior surface of the endotracheal tube substantially below the first location. A second electrode is formed on the exterior surface of the endotracheal tube substantially above the first location. The first and second electrodes are configured to receive the EMG signals from the laryngeal muscles when the endotracheal tube is placed in a trachea of the patient.

Claims

1. An apparatus for monitoring EMG signals of a patient'"'"'s laryngeal muscles, comprising:

an endotracheal tube having an exterior surface and a first location configured to be positioned at the patient'"'"'s vocal folds;

a first electrode formed on the exterior surface of the endotracheal tube substantially below the first location; and

a second electrode formed on the exterior surface of the endotracheal tube substantially above the first location, wherein the first and second electrodes are configured to receive the EMG signals from the laryngeal muscles when the endotracheal tube is placed in a trachea of the patient.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising:

at least one conductor coupled to the first and second electrodes and configured to carry the EMG signals received by the electrodes to a processing apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first electrode is formed on a posterior side of the endotracheal tube.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second electrode is formed on an anterior side of the endotracheal tube.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode each have a length of about one inch.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the first electrode and the second electrode extends laterally around a circumference of the tube for a distance corresponding to an angle of about 60 degrees to 90 degrees.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising:

a third electrode formed on the exterior surface of the endotracheal tube substantially above the first location.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first electrode is formed on a posterior side of the endotracheal tube, and the second and third electrodes are formed on an anterior side of the endotracheal tube.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising:

a third electrode formed on the exterior surface of the endotracheal tube substantially above the first location; and

a fourth electrode formed on the exterior surface of the endotracheal tube substantially below the first location.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first and fourth electrodes are formed on a posterior side of the endotracheal tube, and the second and third electrodes are formed on an anterior side of the endotracheal tube.

11. A method of monitoring EMG signals of a patient'"'"'s laryngeal muscles, comprising:

providing an endotracheal tube having an exterior surface with electrodes formed thereon, wherein the endotracheal tube includes a first location configured to be positioned at the patient'"'"'s vocal folds, and wherein the electrodes include a first electrode positioned substantially below the first location and a second electrode positioned substantially above the first location;

sensing the EMG signals from the laryngeal muscles with the electrodes when the endotracheal tube is placed in a trachea of the patient; and

outputting the EMG signals sensed by the conductive ink electrodes to a processing apparatus.

12. An apparatus for monitoring EMG signals of a patient'"'"'s laryngeal muscles, comprising:

an endotracheal tube having an exterior surface;

at least one electrode formed on the exterior surface in an electrode region of the endotracheal tube, the at least one electrode configured to receive the EMG signals from the laryngeal muscles when the endotracheal tube is placed in a trachea of the patient; and

at least one tube placement marking positioned in the electrode region and configured to facilitate positioning of the at least one electrode within a patient, wherein the at least one tube placement marking includes at least one band that substantially surrounds a circumference of the endotracheal tube, and a vertical line segment that extends in a longitudinal direction along the at least one band.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the vertical line segment and the at least one band each have a length that is substantially the same as a length of the at least one electrode.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one band comprises a plurality of solid color bands surrounding a circumference of the endotracheal tube.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the plurality of solid color bands includes three different colored bands.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one tube placement marking further comprises a plurality of horizontal line segments that are each centered on the vertical line segment and are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one tube placement marking further comprises first and second diagonal line segments that intersect each other at a common point and form an x-type marking.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the vertical line segment intersects the first and second diagonal line segments at the common point.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one tube placement marking further comprises a first solid color triangular shaped marking and a second solid color triangular shaped marking.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the vertical line segment includes two solid color end portions separated by a solid color middle portion, and wherein the middle portion is formed of a color that is different than a color of the end portions.