Patent ID: 6820614
Filing Date: 2004-11-23
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
A method of tracheal intubination, said method comprising the steps of positioning a plurality of detectors in an array adjacent to an outer surface of a patient's neck, locating a positioning apparatus relative to the patient's trachea, moving a guide rod relative to the patient's respiratory system along an insertion path which extends from the patient's pharynx, through the patient's larynx and into the patient's trachea, emitting an output at a leading end portion of the guide rod as the guide rod moves along the insertion path, detecting the output emitted at the leading end portion of the guide rod with detectors of the plurality of detectors, determining the position of the leading end portion of the guide rod along the insertion path as a function of the relationship of the emitted output detected by one of the plurality of detectors to the emitted output detected by another detector of the plurality of detectors, moving a tracheal tube relative to the patient's respiratory system along the insertion path by moving the tracheal tube along the guide rod, emitting an output at a leading end portion of the tracheal tube as the tracheal tube moves along the insertion path, detecting the output emitted at the leading end portion of the tracheal tube with detectors of the plurality of detectors, and determining the position of the leading end portion of the tracheal tube along the insertion path as a function of the relationship of the emitted output detected by one detector of the plurality of detectors to the emitted output detected by another detector of the plurality of detectors.