Digital endotracheal tube sound acquisition and localization device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for confirming proper placement endotracheal tube comprising the steps of:
- providing an apparatus comprising;
an audio receiving unit including a receiver adapted to be placed on a site of a patient'"'"'s body and to receive sounds generated from a pilot tube of an endotracheal tube,an audio processing unit adapted to receive an audio signal detected by the audio receiver and to verify a proper placement of the endotracheal tube in the patient based on characteristics of the audio signal; and
a signal cable interconnecting the receiver and the processing unit;
placing the audio receiving unit on a site of a patient'"'"'s skin;
inserting an endotracheal tube into the patient;
inflating a pilot balloon of the endotracheal tube, which is filled with a gas and liquid mixture;
squeezing the balloon generating a crepitus sound,detecting the sound in the receiver,producing a signal from the receiver,determining, in the processing unit, if the signal evidences proper or improper endotreachal tube placement,generating a cognizable human output corresponding to the placement, andif the placement is improper, repositioning the tube until the signal evidences proper placement.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for determining proper endotreachal placement is disclosed. The apparatus includes an audio receiver having a body, a microphone mount in a center thereof the body and an audio cavity, an audio processing unit; and a signal cable connected at a first end to the microphone and at a second end, where the receiver is adapted to be positioned in a suprasternal notch of a patient and the acoustic signal detected after inflation of a balloon associated with an endotracheal tube. The method uses the apparatus to detect and analyze an audio signal. The audio signal is then used to confirm endotracheal tube placement.
-
Citations
9 Claims
-
1. A method for confirming proper placement endotracheal tube comprising the steps of:
-
providing an apparatus comprising; an audio receiving unit including a receiver adapted to be placed on a site of a patient'"'"'s body and to receive sounds generated from a pilot tube of an endotracheal tube, an audio processing unit adapted to receive an audio signal detected by the audio receiver and to verify a proper placement of the endotracheal tube in the patient based on characteristics of the audio signal; and a signal cable interconnecting the receiver and the processing unit; placing the audio receiving unit on a site of a patient'"'"'s skin; inserting an endotracheal tube into the patient; inflating a pilot balloon of the endotracheal tube, which is filled with a gas and liquid mixture; squeezing the balloon generating a crepitus sound, detecting the sound in the receiver, producing a signal from the receiver, determining, in the processing unit, if the signal evidences proper or improper endotreachal tube placement, generating a cognizable human output corresponding to the placement, and if the placement is improper, repositioning the tube until the signal evidences proper placement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
Specification