Importance

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Abstract

An endotracheal assembly comprises an endotracheal tube, a malleable obturator inside the tube for enabling a placement of a distal end of the tube into a patient's trachea, and a pressure-sensitive detector mounted to the obturator at a distal end thereof for detecting air or gas pressure above a predetermined threshold exerted against a distal end of the obturator upon placement of the tube with the obturator into the patient. Upon an initial insertion of the tube and the obturator into a patient's trachea and possible manipulation of the tube and the obturator to effectuate a placement of the tube, a compressive pressure is exerted externally on the patient's chest. The compressive pressure forces air out of the patient's lungs and, if the tube and obturator assembly is properly placed, effectuates a change in the condition of the pressure sensor. That change in condition indicates that pressure above a predetermined level was exerted against the detector element.

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First Claim