APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MEASURING THE INTRATRACHEAL PRESSURE OF AN INTUBATED PATIENT

摘要

An apparatus and method for determining the intratracheal pressure of a patient intubated with an endotracheal tube (5). An infusion conduit (9) has a first end at the proximal end of the endotracheal tube (5) and a second end proximate to the distal end of the endotracheal tube (5). The first end of the infusion conduit (9) is connectable to a pressure sensing unit (12). A fluid source (10) flows a gaseous or liquid fluid through the infusion conduit to maintain the patency of the infusion conduit (9) from the first end to the second end and to allow the pressure obtained at the second end of the infusion conduit (9) to be used to determine the intratracheal pressure of the subject.