Patent ID: 9707363
Date: 2017-07-18
CPC Classifications: A61M

Claim:
1. A method for use of acoustic reflectometry in ventilation devices, the method comprising: emitting sound waves from a sound generator into an endotracheal tube (“ETT”), wherein the sound generator is positioned downstream of a ventilator, and the ETT is in communication with the ventilator; detecting returning acoustic reflections with at least one sound receiver when there is a change in a cross sectional area in the ETT; using a reflectometry device having at least one processor and a memory that is accessible to the processor for analyzing timings and amplitudes of the returning acoustic reflections to determine a location and size of an ETT obstruction; and using the location and size of the ETT obstruction to calculate flow resistance within the ETT, estimating a pressure drop across the ETT using the calculated flow resistance when a patient spontaneously breathes, and the ventilator, in response to the estimated pressure drop, automatically increasing the pressure at a proximal end of the ETT to compensate for the estimated pressure drop.