Method, apparatus and systems for monitoring co2

Abstract

There is provided herein methods, apparatus and systems for evaluating carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) concentration in a subject's breath, for example in subjects ventilated with High Frequency Ventilation (HFV), the method includes inserting to a trachea of a subject an endotrachial tube (ETT), sampling breath from an area in the trachea located in proximity to a distal end of the endotrachial tube (ETT) and evaluating one or more CO 2 related parameters of the sampled breath.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for evaluating concentration of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) in a subject's breath, the method comprising:
 inserting an endotrachial tube (ETT) to a subject in a need thereof;   sampling breath from an area in the trachea located in proximity to a distal end of the endotrachial tube (ETT); and   evaluating one or more parameters related to concentration of CO 2  in the sampled breath.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein sampling breath comprises inserting a second tube into the endotrachial tube (ETT), such that the second tube reaches the area located in proximity to the distal end of the endotrachial tube (ETT), and sampling the breath through the second tube. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the endotrachial tube (ETT) is a double lumen endotrachial tube (ETT) having a main endotrachial tube and a second endotrachial tube, wherein sampling of breath is conducted through the second endotrachial tube. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the second endotrachial tube is located essentially inside the lumen of the main endotrachial tube, essentially inside the wall of the main endotrachial tube or partly in both. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the second endotrachial tube is located outside the main endotrachial tube. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the second endotrachial tube has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the main endotrachial tube. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein sampling further comprises connecting a sampling line to a connector located at a proximal end of the second endotrachial tube. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising performing suction of fluid from the second endotrachial tube, wherein when suction is performed sampling is temporarily stopped and when sampling is performed suction is stopped. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , for use with children, infants and/or neonates. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , for use with subjects ventilated with High Frequency Ventilation (HFV). 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more parameters related to concentration of CO 2  comprise Spontaneous End tidal CO 2  (S-EtCO 2 ), Spontaneous final inspired CO 2  (S-FiCO 2 ), Continuous (Cont. CO 2 ), Diffusion CO 2  (DCO 2 ), density of Spontaneous breathing or any trend thereof or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the endotrachial tube (ETT) is an uncuffed endotrachial tube (ETT). 
     
     
         13 . A double lumen endotrachial tube (ETT) adapted for sampling breath from a subject for the evaluation of one or more parameters related to concentration of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) in the sampled breath, the double lumen endotrachial tube (ETT) comprising:
 a main endotrachial tube; and   a second endotrachial tube adapted to sample breath from a distal position in a trachea of a subject.   
     
     
         14 . The double lumen endotrachial tube (ETT) of  claim 13 , wherein the second endotrachial tube is located essentially inside the lumen of the main endotrachial tube, essentially inside the wall of the main endotrachial tube or partly in both. 
     
     
         15 . The double lumen endotrachial tube (ETT) of  claim 13 , wherein the second endotrachial tube is located outside the main endotrachial tube. 
     
     
         16 . The double lumen endotrachial tube (ETT) of  claim 13 , wherein the second endotrachial tube has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the main endotrachial tube. 
     
     
         17 . The double lumen endotrachial tube (ETT) of  claim 13 , wherein the second endotrachial tube comprises at a proximal end thereof a connector adapted to connect to a sampling line through a sampling opening. 
     
     
         18 . The double lumen endotrachial tube (ETT) of  claim 17 , wherein the connector further comprises a suction port adapted to connect to a fluid suction device and/or to facilitate administration of medical agents. 
     
     
         19 . The double lumen endotrachial tube (ETT) of  claim 18 , wherein the connector further comprises a valve, wherein when the valve is in a first position flow of sampled breath to the sampling line is allowed and the suction port is blocked and when the valve is in a second position the suction port is opened and flow of sampled breath to the sampling line is blocked. 
     
     
         20 . The double lumen endotrachial tube (ETT) of  claim 13 , wherein the second endotrachial tube comprises at a distal end thereof two or more openings adapted to allow flow of breath to the second endotrachial tube.