TRANSTRACHEAL MONITORING OF THE RECURRENT LARYNGEAL NERVE - PROTOTYPEOF A NEW ENDOTRACHEAL-TUBE

A new sensing device for the continuous intraoperative monitoring of t he recurrent laryngeal nerve is presented. It is based on a double bal looned endotracheal tube including stimulating and tracing electrodes. The system is characterised by three advantages: 1) it is atraumatic, 2) it is operating completely outside the operating field (extraterri torially), 3) nerve function is being monitored continuously from the time of intubation to the time of extubation. The presented system has been evaluated in piglets. First results in humans will be available shortly.