Abstract: A system of treating atelectasis is provided that includes a tracheal tube positioned within an airway of a ventilated patient and an acoustic sensor coupled to the tracheal tube. The system also includes a monitor communicatively coupled to the acoustic sensor. The monitor includes a processor configured to receive a baseline signal from the acoustic sensor. The processor is configured to provide control instructions to adjust a pressure of a gas mixture delivered to the airway through the tracheal tube. The processor is also configured to receive an updated signal from the acoustic sensor after the adjustment and identify a change in airway openness of lungs of the ventilated patient caused by the adjustment of the pressure. Further, identifying the change is based on the baseline signal and the updated signal.

Abstract: An acoustic sensor device including a proximal end connectable to a breathing circuit to receive breathing gases; a distal end connectable to the tracheal tube; a housing, between the proximal end and the distal end, defining a lumen through which the breathing gases flow; an acoustic generator within the housing and positioned to emit acoustic pulses into the lumen; an acoustic receiver within the housing and positioned distally from the acoustic generator; and a first gas property sensor within the housing and positioned proximally from the acoustic receiver, the first gas property comprising at least one of a flow sensor, a pressure sensor, a humidity sensor, or a temperature sensor.

Abstract: A system of treating atelectasis is provided that includes a tracheal tube positioned within an airway of a ventilated patient and an acoustic sensor coupled to the tracheal tube. The system also includes a monitor communicatively coupled to the acoustic sensor. The monitor includes a processor configured to receive a baseline signal from the acoustic sensor. The processor is configured to provide control instructions to adjust a pressure of a gas mixture delivered to the airway through the tracheal tube. The processor is also configured to receive an updated signal from the acoustic sensor after the adjustment and identify a change in airway openness of lungs of the ventilated patient caused by the adjustment of the pressure. Further, identifying the change is based on the baseline signal and the updated signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identification and display of airway collapse due to conditions such as tracheomalacia (TM) or dynamic airway collapse (DAC). In an aspect, the technology relates to a method for identifying airway collapse. The method includes emitting, from an acoustic sensor, a series of acoustic pulses into a tracheal tube positioned in an airway of a patient; detecting, by the acoustic sensor, echoes resulting from the series of acoustic pulses; generating, based on the detected echoes, a time series of passageway sizes of the airway; based on the time series of passageway sizes, detecting an airway collapse has occurred; and based on detecting the airway collapse has occurred, activating an airway collapse alarm.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for use of acoustic reflectometry information in ventilation devices. The system and method includes a speaker to emit sound waves into an intubated endotracheal tube (“ETT”) and a microphone to detect returning acoustic reflections. In addition, the system and method includes a reflectometry device in communication with a ventilation device for analyzing timings and amplitudes of the returning acoustic reflections to determine a size of a passageway around an ETT tip, location and size of ETT obstructions, and relative movement of the ETT tip within a trachea. The reflectometry device is also configured to determine a resistance parameter representative of resistance to actual flow of air through the ETT based upon a function of the diameter of the ETT, length of the ETT, and percent obstruction of the ETT, where the resistance parameter is used to calculate the tracheal pressure.

Abstract: A device and method for verifying the proper position of catheters in the body by means of acoustic reflectometry, the device including a sound source, one or more sound receivers, a tube with compliant walls and open distal end to be introduced through an entrance to a body cavity, the sound source and receiver(s) coupled to the proximal end of the tube, a processor for causing the sound source to generate an acoustic excitation signal, the processor processing the acoustic signals sensed by the sound receiver(s) and generating an approximation of the acoustic impulse response of the tube, and the processor analyzing the acoustic impulse response to determine the position of the tube in the body cavity.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for use of acoustic reflectometry information in ventilation devices. The system and method includes a speaker to emit sound waves into an intubated endotracheal tube (“ETT”) and a microphone to detect returning acoustic reflections. In addition, the system and method includes a reflectometry device in communication with a ventilation device for analyzing timings and amplitudes of the returning acoustic reflections to determine a size of a passageway around an ETT tip, location and size of ETT obstructions, and relative movement of the ETT tip within a trachea. The reflectometry device is also configured to determine a resistance parameter representative of resistance to actual flow of air through the ETT based upon a function of the diameter of the ETT, length of the ETT, and percent obstruction of the ETT, where the resistance parameter is used to calculate the tracheal pressure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for use of acoustic reflectometry information in ventilation devices. The system and method includes a speaker to emit sound waves into an intubated endotracheal tube (“ETT”) and a microphone to detect returning acoustic reflections. In addition, the system and method includes a reflectometry device in communication with a ventilation device for analyzing timings and amplitudes of the returning acoustic reflections to determine a size of a passageway around an ETT tip, location and size of ETT obstructions, and relative movement of the ETT tip within a trachea.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for use of acoustic reflectometry information in ventilation devices. The system and method includes a speaker to emit sound waves into an intubated endotracheal tube (“ETT”) and a microphone to detect returning acoustic reflections. In addition, the system and method includes a reflectometry device in communication with a ventilation device for analyzing timings and amplitudes of the returning acoustic reflections to determine a size of a passageway around an ETT tip, location and size of ETT obstructions, and relative movement of the ETT tip within a trachea. The reflectometry device is also configured to determine a resistance parameter representative of resistance to actual flow of air through the ETT based upon a function of the diameter of the ETT, length of the ETT, and percent obstruction of the ETT, where the resistance parameter is used to calculate the tracheal pressure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a leak detection system and method for tube or catheter placement. The system and method includes acoustically sensing a leak in the seal between a tube or catheter within a body and the body cavity against which it is sealed, assisting the user in adjusting the system until the leak has been substantially sealed, and establishing system parameters to be used thereafter to maintain the system in an operating state that will substantially prevent leakage, all using a noninvasive acoustic technique.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for use of acoustic reflectometry information in ventilation devices. The system and method includes a speaker to emit sound waves into an intubated endotracheal tube (“ETT”) and a microphone to detect returning acoustic reflections. In addition, the system and method includes a reflectometry device in communication with a ventilation device for analyzing timings and amplitudes of the returning acoustic reflections to determine a size of a passageway around an ETT tip, location and size of ETT obstructions, and relative movement of the ETT tip within a trachea. The reflectometry device is also configured to determine a resistance parameter representative of resistance to actual flow of air through the ETT based upon a function of the diameter of the ETT, length of the ETT, and percent obstruction of the ETT, where the resistance parameter is used to calculate the tracheal pressure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for use of acoustic reflectometry information in ventilation devices. The system and method includes a speaker to emit sound waves into an intubated endotracheal tube (“ETT”) and a microphone to detect returning acoustic reflections. In addition, the system and method includes a reflectometry device in communication with a ventilation device for analyzing timings and amplitudes of the returning acoustic reflections to determine a size of a passageway around an ETT tip, location and size of ETT obstructions, and relative movement of the ETT tip within a trachea. The reflectometry device is also configured to determine a resistance parameter representative of resistance to actual flow of air through the ETT based upon a function of the diameter of the ETT, length of the ETT, and percent obstruction of the ETT, where the resistance parameter is used to calculate the tracheal pressure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a leak detection system and method for tube or catheter placement. The system and method includes acoustically sensing a leak in the seal between a tube or catheter within a body and the body cavity against which it is sealed, assisting the user in adjusting the system until the leak has been substantially sealed, and establishing system parameters to be used thereafter to maintain the system in an operating state that will substantially prevent leakage, all using a noninvasive acoustic technique.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a leak detection system and method for tube or catheter placement. The system and method includes acoustically sensing a leak in the seal between a tube or catheter within a body and the body cavity against which it is sealed, assisting the user in adjusting the system until the leak has been substantially sealed, and establishing system parameters to be used thereafter to maintain the system in an operating state that will substantially prevent leakage, all using a noninvasive acoustic technique.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for use of acoustic reflectometry information in ventilation devices. The system and method includes a speaker to emit sound waves into an intubated endotracheal tube (“ETT”) and a microphone to detect returning acoustic reflections. In addition, the system and method includes a reflectometry device in communication with a ventilation device for analyzing timings and amplitudes of the returning acoustic reflections to determine a size of a passageway around an ETT tip, location and size of ETT obstructions, and relative movement of the ETT tip within a trachea. The reflectometry device is also configured to determine a resistance parameter representative of resistance to actual flow of air through the ETT based upon a function of the diameter of the ETT, length of the ETT, and percent obstruction of the ETT, where the resistance parameter is used to calculate the tracheal pressure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a leak detection system and method for tube or catheter placement. The system and method includes acoustically sensing a leak in the seal between a tube or catheter within a body and the body cavity against which it is sealed, assisting the user in adjusting the system until the leak has been substantially sealed, and establishing system parameters to be used thereafter to maintain the system in an operating state that will substantially prevent leakage, all using a noninvasive acoustic technique.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for acoustically guiding a distal end of a tube within a body. An incident sound pulse is generated and propagated down the tube into the body. A plurality of microphones are located in the tube and are positioned to detect pulses traveling through the tube. A discriminator distinguishes between incident sound pulses and those that are reflected from within the body. The detected sound pulses are processed to provide an indication of the location of the distal end of the tube within the body, to assist with the guidance of the insertion into the body, to estimate dimensions of the body adjacent the distal end of the tube, and to determine if the tube is obstructed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for acoustically guiding a distal end of a tube within a body. The apparatus and method generates an incident sound pulse in the tube which propagates into the body, detects sound pulses resulting from the incident sound pulse and from reflected sound pulses from within the body, and processes the detected sound pulses to guide insertion of the distal end of the tube within the body. The apparatus and method provides an indication of the position of the distal end of the tube within the body conduit, estimates dimensions of the body conduit adjacent the distal end of the tube, and determines if the tube is obstructed.