Patent ID: 8634894

Claim:
A device for use in monitoring electrical signals during laryngeal electromyography comprising: an endotracheal tube having a retention balloon at or adjacent a distal end thereof, said tube having on its outer surface first and second electrically conductive electrodes applied proximal of the balloon directly to the surface of the tube, without the inclusion of a carrier film between the tube surface and the electrodes, said first and second electrodes electrically isolated from each other, at least one of said electrically conductive electrodes positioned to contact the vocal cords, the second electrode positioned to contact tissue, nerves and muscle in the trachea or the tongue when the tube is positioned in the trachea, said tube having on its surface first and second electrically conductive traces, said traces electrically isolated from each other, each trace connected to or integral with an electrode, the traces applied directly to the tube surface and running along the length of the endotracheal tube to a proximal portion of the tube, a proximal connection point connected to or integral with each of the conductive traces, the connection points applied directly to the tube surface at a proximal end of the traces on the endotracheal tube, and electrical leads connected to the connection points, said leads adapted for connection to monitoring equipment, the electrically conductive traces covered by an insulating material along their length from a point adjacent the electrodes to a point adjacent the connection points.