Patent ID: 8280489

Claim:
A method for determining placement of a tracheal tube in a subject comprising: emitting light from a plurality of optical conductors circumferentially spaced about a beveled distal end of a tracheal tube disposed in a subject, wherein the beveled distal end is slanted relative to a wall of the tracheal tube such that the plurality of optical conductors are different distances from a carina of the subject; determining an intensity of the emitted light from each of the respective plurality of optical conductors; receiving returned light from the carina of the subject; measuring an intensity of the returned light from each of the respective plurality of optical conductors; and determining a placement parameter reflective of an angular orientation of the beveled distal end relative to the carina based upon a relationship between the intensity of the returned light and the emitted light from each of the respective plurality of optical conductors and a difference in path length between the plurality of optical conductors, wherein the difference in path length is representative of a position of each respective optical conductor about the distal end.