METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC VERIFICATION OF ENDOTRACHEAL INTUBATION

• US 20120116156A1
• Filed: 04/27/2010
• Published: 05/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tubeeye Medical Ltd
• Original Assignee: Tubeeye Medical Ltd
• Inventors: Lederman, Dror
• Application Number:
  US13/138,893
• Publication Number:
  US 20120116156A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/109
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/000094 extracting biological structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00055 for alerting the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/267 for the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes, bronchoscopes
• 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 16/0427 with removable and re-insertable liner tubes, e.g. for cleaning
• 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 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers

Abstract

A medical device includes a tube, at least one imaging sensor coupled to an endoscope in the tube, and a monitor application to monitor positioning of the tube in a medical patient by identifying expected anatomical features in images provided by the at least one sensor. A method for endotracheal intubation includes receiving imaging frames from a sensor located in an endotracheal tube inserted through a patient'"'"'s mouth, and processing the imaging frames to identify a progression of anatomical features consistent with a proper placement of the endotracheal tube.

Claims

10. A method for endotracheal intubation comprising:

receiving video imaging frames from a sensor located in an endotracheal tube inserted through a patient'"'"'s mouth; and

processing said video imaging frames to identify a progression of anatomical features consistent with a proper placement of said endotracheal tube.

11. The method according to claim 10 and wherein said progression of anatomical features is at least one of:

a carina identified with high probability, and a carina identified with low probability recently proceeded by an identification of vocal cords.

12. The method according to claim 10 and also comprising identifying a bronchial intubation, wherein said bronchial intubation is inferred from an unidentified anatomical feature recently proceeded by an identification of a carina.

13. The method according to claim 10 and also comprising identifying an esophageal intubation, wherein said esophageal intubation is inferred from an unidentified anatomical feature that was not preceded by an identification of a carina.

14. The method according to claim 10 and also comprising indicating results of said processing to an operator of said tube.

15. The method according to claim 10 and wherein said processing comprises determining whether a distance from said sensor to an identified carina is consistent with a proper placement of said endotracheal tube.

16. The method according to claim 15 and wherein said determining comprises:

performing segmentation and unsupervised clustering of said imaging frames depicting said identified carina;

calculating a clusters area from said imaging frames;

calculating a ratio between said clusters area and a total image area; and

calculating said distance as a*r+b, wherein r is equal to said ratio and a and b are determined empirically based on a training database.

17. The method according to claim 10 and also comprising identifying said anatomical features using at least one of reference comparison, statistical modeling, unsupervised clustering and ellipse detection.