A device for maintaining an airway in a patient, the device including a mask having a peripheral portion that forms a seal with the larynx when the mask is positioned in the laryngo pharynx to thereby prevent ingress of extraneous fluids into the larynx; an airway tube connected to or formed with the mask for passing gas to the larynx when the mask is properly inserted into the laryngo pharynx; and one or more elongated members located on the mask, wherein the application of force to the elongated members causes elastic deformation of the device, thereby facilitating insertion of the device into the patient.

This document provides devices and methods for performing tracheostomies. For example, this document provides devices and methods for performing tracheostomies using tracheostomy tubes that include a cuff at the neck opening area that can prevent or reduce the potential for air leaks.

An apparatus for monitoring EMG signals of a patient's laryngeal muscles includes an endotracheal tube having an exterior surface and a first location configured to be positioned at the patient's vocal folds. A first electrode is formed on the exterior surface of the endotracheal tube substantially below the first location to receive EMG signals primarily from below the vocal folds. A second electrode is formed on the exterior surface of the endotracheal tube substantially above the first location to receive EMG signals primarily from above the vocal folds. The first and second electrodes are configured to receive the EMG signals from the laryngeal muscles when the endotracheal tube is placed in a trachea of the patient.

Medical methods and systems are provided for effecting lung volume reduction by selectively ablating segments of lung tissue.

Systems, methods, and devices for facilitating insertion of an endotracheal tube and/or for verifying the position of the endotracheal tube within an airway of a patient with respect to an anatomical landmark of a patient are disclosed. Systems, methods, and devices for facilitating removal of debris from the distal airways of a patient under direct visualization are also disclosed.

Devices and methods for allowing for improved assisted ventilation of a patient. The methods and devices provide a number of benefits over conventional approaches for assisted ventilation. For example, the methods and devices described herein permit blind insertion of a device that can allow ventilation regardless of whether the device is positioned within a trachea or an esophagus. In addition, the methods and device allow for timed delivery of ventilations based on a condition of a thoracic cavity to increase the amount and efficiency of blood flow during a resuscitation procedure.

The embodied invention is a new inspiration/expiration ventilator flow design, with a constant inspiration flow and intermittent-concurrent expiratory flow based on lung pressure setpoints. This mode is possible by using a new dual lumen tube inserted into a patient Trachea. Additionally, the control provides support for patient initiated breathing which is initiated by a lung pressure drop. This control provides continuous and gentle recruitment of lung alveoli.

Various embodiments of a tracheostomy tube having neck flanges with filleted ends are provided. In certain embodiments, the neck flange may include a fillet extending from a bottom surface of the neck flange to a tip of the neck flange. In addition, the filleted end may also be tapered from a top surface of the neck flange to the tip of the neck flange. The neck flange may also include several curved edges, such as curved edges from the tip of the neck flange to side surfaces of the neck flange, and a curved bottom surface from side surface to side surface of the neck flange.

A tracheal tube include a conformable conduit that forms a respiratory passage to transfer respiratory gases to a patient. A helical inflatable lumen is formed in or on an interior surface of the conformable conduit. Fluid transferred into the helical inflatable lumen causes the inflatable lumen to assume an expanded configuration to expand an outer diameter of the conformable conduit relative to an unexpanded configuration of the helical inflatable lumen. When in the expanded configuration and inserted in a patient, conformable walls of the conformable conduit expand outwards to contact the tracheal walls such that the conformable conduit is self-sizing to a patient's trachea size.

A system and method for ventilating the lungs of a patient. The system includes a smart tube for intubation comprising a tip and a cuff. The system also includes one or more cameras, coupled with the smart tube, for providing relative positional intubation measurements of the patient and/or providing intubation images of the patient. Further, the system includes one or more sensors, coupled with the smart tube, for sensing the inflation of the cuff and/or sensing pressure of the cuff. The system for ventilating additionally includes a computing system, coupled with the camera, the at least one sensor and the smart tube, for computing programmed feedback based on the relative positional intubation measurements, and/or the intubation images, and/or the inflation of the cuff, and/or the pressure of the cuff.