Multiple channel tracheal tube placement device and technique for using the same
According to various embodiments, a tracheal tube may employ sensing techniques for determining a distance between the inserted tube and an anatomical structure such as a carina. The distance information may provide an indication as to whether or not the tracheal tube is properly placed within the trachea. Because a tracheal tube may rotate within the trachea, the sensing information may be gathered from multiple locations on the tracheal tube for a rotation-independent measurement technique.
1. A method for determining placement of a tracheal tube in a subject comprising:
emitting light from a plurality of locations disposed about a tracheal tube disposed in a subject;
receiving returned light from the respective plurality of locations;
determining a placement parameter of the tracheal tube by separately comparing the returned light from each location of the respective plurality of locations with a threshold, wherein the placement parameter is representative of a relative position of the tracheal tube within the trachea; and
providing a user-perceivable output based on the placement parameter.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein separately comparing the returned light from each location of the respective plurality of locations with a threshold comprises determining a time of flight of the returned light.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein separately comparing the returned light from each location of the respective plurality of locations with a threshold comprises determining an intensity of the returned light.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the placement parameter comprises determining whether the returned light from more than one of the plurality of locations exceeds the threshold.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein emitting light from a plurality of locations comprises emitting light from a plurality of locations disposed about a rotational axis of the tracheal tube.
6. The method of claim 1 , comprising providing an alarm indication in response to determining that the placement parameter is outside of a predetermined placement range.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the placement parameter comprises determining a distance between a distal tip of the tracheal tube and a carina of the subject.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein emitting light from a plurality of locations comprises emitting light from a plurality of optical conductors circumferentially spaced about a beveled distal end of the tracheal tube.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold comprises an empirically derived optical intensity threshold.
10. A monitor comprising:
a processor configured to execute instructions for:
receiving a plurality of optical signals from a plurality of locations on a tracheal tube; and
determining a placement parameter of the tracheal tube by separately comparing each of the received plurality of optical signals with a threshold, wherein the placement parameter is representative of a relative position of the tracheal tube within the trachea; and
a memory storing the instructions;
wherein the processor is configured to access the memory to execute the instructions.
11. The monitor of claim 10 , wherein the threshold comprises an empirically derived optical intensity threshold.
12. The monitor of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to execute instructions for determining a time of flight of each of the received plurality of optical signals.
13. The monitor of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to execute instructions for determining an intensity of each of the received plurality of optical signals.
14. The monitor of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to execute instructions for determining whether more than one of the received plurality of optical signals exceeds the threshold.
15. The monitor of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to execute instructions for providing an alarm indication in response to determining that the placement parameter is outside of a predetermined placement range.
16. The monitor of claim 10 , comprising a display, wherein the processor is configured to cause the display to display a visual indication based at least in part upon a determination that the placement parameter is outside of a predetermined placement range.
17. A system for determining placement of a tracheal tube in a subject comprising:
means for emitting light from a plurality of locations disposed about a tracheal tube disposed in a subject;
means for receiving returned light from the respective plurality of locations;
means for determining a placement parameter of the tracheal tube by separately comparing the returned light from each location of the respective plurality of locations with a threshold; and
means for providing a user-perceivable output based on the placement parameter.
18. The system of claim 17 , comprising means for determining an intensity of the returned light from each of the respective plurality of locations.
19. The system of claim 17 , comprising means for determining a time of flight of the returned light from each of the respective plurality of locations.
20. The system of claim 17 , comprising means for providing an alarm indication based at least in part upon a determination that the placement parameter is outside of a predetermined placement range.