Patent ID: 9498590
Filing Date: 2016-11-22
CPC Classification: A61M

Claim Text:
1. A leak detection method for tube placement, the method comprising: using a microphone at only one location coupled to the tube to detect acoustic waves generated by vibrations from a passage of air between an inflatable cuff of the tube and an anatomical conduit when inserted in the anatomical conduit; and transmitting the acoustic waves from the microphone at the only one location to a processor that is configured to compare the acoustic waves to a baseline expected sound profile stored in a memory and determine that a leak around the inflatable cuff is present when the acoustic waves are in addition to the baseline expected sound profile, wherein the baseline expected sound profile is established by the detection of a frequency range over a duration of time, such that the expected baseline sound profile defines an absence of a backflow of the air and other fluids caused by leakage past the cuff.