A device for the prevention of injuries to the nervus laryngeal recurrent (vocal - nerve) in the case of surgical operations, as well as the uses of such a device

摘要

A pressure sensor (1) is attached around the end of an endotracheal tube just prior to the sealing cuff. The pressure sensor can be a circular two wire sensor or a split wire system (7). The wires (8) from the sensor lead to a pressure monitor which can give a digital or an analogue reading together with an alarm function. When the endotracheal tube is in position and the surgeon begins to operate in the neck area he may encroach upon nerves connected to the larynx. This happens in between three and ten percent of all operations in the head or neck area and if the nerve is damaged can lead to loss of normal speech and a narrowing of the airway which leads to shortage of breath for the patient. If the surgeon is operating in the area of the N Laryngeus, pressure will be exerted on the nerve and an optical and acoustic alarm will sound.