US 11,986,593 B2
Methods and devices for determining a position of an endotracheal tube
David Schaner, Jersey City, NJ (US)
Assigned to ENDOLYNX, INC., Jersey City, NJ (US)
Filed by Endolynx, Inc., Jersey City, NJ (US)
Filed on Sep. 10, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/017,620.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/054,520, filed on Jul. 21, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/924,862, filed on Oct. 23, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0121651 A1, Apr. 29, 2021
Int. Cl. A61M 16/04 (2006.01); A61M 16/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 16/0488 (2013.01) [A61M 16/0003 (2014.02); A61M 16/045 (2014.02); A61M 2205/3331 (2013.01); A61M 2205/3375 (2013.01); A61M 2205/583 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An endotracheal system comprising:
an endotracheal tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen between the proximal end and the distal end configured to be positioned in a trachea;
at least one sensor supported by the endotracheal tube and configured to detect vocal cords(s) and produce sensor data, the at least one sensor comprising at least one infrared emitter and at least one detector; and
a signal processing unit configured to:
receive sensor data from the at least one sensor,
produce data representing the surface of the detected vocal cords(s),
identify the detected vocal cords(s) when the endotracheal tube is positioned in the trachea, and
determine a distance between the detected vocal cords(s) and a known point on the endotracheal tube.