Patent ID: 8038629

Claim:
A method for confirming proper placement endotracheal tube comprising the steps of: providing an apparatus comprising: an audio receiving unit including a receiver adapted to be placed on a site of a patient's body and to receive sounds generated from a pilot tube of an endotracheal tube, an audio processing unit adapted to receive an audio signal detected by the audio receiver and to verify a proper placement of the endotracheal tube in the patient based on characteristics of the audio signal; and a signal cable interconnecting the receiver and the processing unit; placing the audio receiving unit on a site of a patient's skin; inserting an endotracheal tube into the patient; inflating a pilot balloon of the endotracheal tube, which is filled with a gas and liquid mixture; squeezing the balloon generating a crepitus sound, detecting the sound in the receiver, producing a signal from the receiver, determining, in the processing unit, if the signal evidences proper or improper endotreachal tube placement, generating a cognizable human output corresponding to the placement, and if the placement is improper, repositioning the tube until the signal evidences proper placement.