Endobronchial tube apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9398865-B2
Application number	US-201514747257-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2015
Priority date	Nov 29, 2012
Publication date	Jul 26, 2016
Grant date	Jul 26, 2016

Abstract

Concepts presented herein include an apparatus for monitoring EMG signals of a patient's laryngeal muscles. The apparatus includes an endobronchial tube having an exterior surface and two lumens for providing ventilation. Conductive ink electrodes are formed on the exterior surface of the endobronchial tube. The conductive ink electrodes are configured to receive the EMG signals from the laryngeal muscles when the endotracheal tube is placed in a trachea of the patient. At least one conductor is coupled to the conductive ink electrodes and is configured to carry the EMG signals received by the conductive ink electrodes to a processing apparatus.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for monitoring electromyographic signals of a patient's laryngeal muscles, comprising:
an endobronchial tube defining first and second lumens;
a first cuff coupled to the endobronchial tube and positioned proximate a first opening fluidly coupled with the first lumen, the first cuff sized to be positioned within a bronchus of the patient;
a second cuff coupled to the endobronchial tube and positioned proximate a second opening fluidly coupled with the second lumen, the second cuff configured to be positioned within a trachea of the patient;
an electrode cuff coupled to the endobronchial tube and positioned proximal to the first cuff and the second cuff; and
electrodes positioned on an exterior surface of the electrode cuff.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electrodes include four electrodes positioned around a circumference of the exterior surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a Y-connector coupled to the endobronchial tube, the Y-connector fluidly coupling first and second fittings to the first and second lumens, respectively.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an interconnection coupled to the tube and conductive traces electrically connecting the electrodes with the interconnection.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising first and second inflating conduits fluidly coupled to the first and second cuffs, respectively.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the electrode cuff is fluidly coupled to the second inflating conduit.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second cuff is formed of a first material exhibiting a first compliance and wherein the electrode cuff is formed of a second material exhibiting a second compliance, greater than the first compliance.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electrodes are conductive ink electrodes.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electrodes are positioned such that, when the first cuff is positioned within the bronchus and the second cuff is positioned within the trachea, the electrodes are in contact with vocal folds of the patient.

10. A method for monitoring electromyographic signals of a patient's laryngeal muscles, comprising:
providing an endobronchial tube defining first and second lumens, the endobronchial tube including electrodes positioned on an exterior surface of an electrode cuff of the endobronchial tube;
positioning a bronchial cuff within a bronchus of the patient, the bronchial cuff being coupled to the endobronchial tube;
positioning a tracheal cuff within a trachea of the patient, the tracheal cuff coupled to the endobronchial tube, wherein the electrode cuff is positioned proximal to the bronchial cuff and the tracheal cuff; and
measuring signals of the patient using the electrodes.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the electrodes include four electrodes positioned around a circumference of the exterior surface.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
coupling a Y connector to the endobronchial tube, the Y connector fluidly coupling first and second fittings to the first and second lumens, respectively.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising electrically connecting the electrodes to an interconnection on the endobronchial tube with conductive traces.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
inflating the bronchial and tracheal cuffs using first and second inflating conduits, respectively.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
inflating the electrode cuff using the second inflating conduit.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the tracheal cuff is formed of a first material exhibiting a first compliance and wherein the electrode cuff is formed of a second material exhibiting a second compliance, greater than the first compliance.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the electrodes are conductive ink electrodes.

18. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
positioning the electrodes in contact with vocal folds of the patient.

Assignees

• Medtronic Xomed Inc

Inventors

• Li Wenjeng

Classifications

• A61M16/0443

  Special cuff-wall materials (A61M16/0481, A61M16/0422 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61M16/0833

  T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece · CPC title

• A61B5/6847

  mounted on an invasive device · CPC title

• A61M16/0459

  one cuff behind another · CPC title

• A61B5/0492 Primary

  Human Necessities · mapped topic