Endotracheal tube apparatus

1. An apparatus for monitoring electromyographic (EMG) signals of a patient's laryngeal muscles, comprising:

an endotracheal tube having an exterior surface; and a plurality of conductive electrodes printed on the exterior surface along a posterior side of the endotracheal tube, wherein the plurality of conductive electrodes are laterally offset and not substantially longitudinally offset, wherein an anterior side of the endotracheal tube opposite the posterior side of the endotracheal tube is substantially free from the plurality of conductive electrodes.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the posterior side of the endotracheal tube is configured to be positioned along a posterior trachea of the patient.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the anterior side of the endotracheal tube is completely free from the plurality of conductive electrodes.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the posterior side of the endotracheal tube is configured to be positioned along a posterior trachea of the patient, and wherein the anterior side of the endotracheal tube is configured to be positioned along an anterior trachea of the patient.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , and further comprising a cuff inflating lumen formed in the anterior side of the endotracheal tube.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conductive electrodes extend longitudinally along a length of the endotracheal tube and are spaced apart to surround half of a circumference of the endotracheal tube.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conductive electrodes comprise a printed silver conductive ink.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conductive electrodes includes only four conductive electrodes.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conductive electrodes includes at least four conductive electrodes.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of electrodes is at least about 1.9 inches in length.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , and further comprising an interconnection element substantially surrounding a circumference of the endotracheal tube and positioned at an end of a set of wires coupled to the plurality of conductive electrodes.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the wires are configured to carry the EMG signals received by the plurality of conductive electrodes to a processing apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of conductive electrodes are unmasked and exposed, and wherein the plurality of conductive electrodes are coupled to traces that are masked and not exposed.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of conductive electrodes are coupled to the wires via the traces.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

an endotracheal tube having an exterior surface;

an inflatable cuff connected to the endotracheal tube near a distal end of the endotracheal tube; and

a plurality of electrodes printed on the exterior surface along a posterior side of the endotracheal tube and positioned proximal to the inflatable cuff, wherein an anterior side of the endotracheal tube is free from the plurality of electrodes, wherein the plurality of electrodes are laterally offset to substantially surround half of a circumference of the endotracheal tube and are not substantially longitudinally offset, and wherein the plurality of electrodes are configured to receive electromyographic (EMG) signals from laryngeal muscles when the plurality of electrodes are positioned in contact with a posterior trachea of a patient.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , and further comprising:

a cuff inflating lumen formed in the anterior side of the endotracheal tube.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , and further comprising:

a plurality of printed traces that are masked and unexposed formed on the posterior side of the exterior surface of the endotracheal tube proximal to the plurality of electrodes and respectively coupled to the plurality of electrodes.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , and further comprising:

a plurality of wires respectively coupled to proximal ends of the plurality of printed traces and configured to carry the EMG signals received by the plurality of electrodes to a processing apparatus; and

an interconnection element substantially surrounding a circumference of the endotracheal tube and positioned at an end of the plurality of wires.

19. A method of monitoring electromyographic (EMG) signals of a patient's laryngeal muscles, comprising:

providing an endotracheal tube having an exterior surface and a plurality of conductive electrodes printed on the exterior surface along a posterior side of the endotracheal tube, wherein the plurality of conductive electrodes are laterally offset and not substantially longitudinally offset, and wherein an anterior side opposite the posterior side the endotracheal tube is substantially free from the plurality of conductive electrodes;

positioning the endotracheal tube in a trachea of the patient with the plurality of conductive electrodes in contact with a posterior of the trachea; and

sensing the EMG signals from the laryngeal muscles with the plurality of conductive electrodes when the endotracheal tube is positioned in the trachea of the patient.

20. The method of claim 19 , and further comprising:

outputting the EMG signals sensed by the plurality of conductive electrodes to a processing apparatus.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the anterior side is completely free from the plurality of conductive electrodes.

22. The method of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of conductive electrodes includes only four conductive electrodes.