Tracheal Acoustic Monitoring to Detect Respiratory Airflow

A wearable device to detect respiratory obstruction during sedation or anesthesia.

About the Technology

Tracheal Acoustic Monitoring (TAM) is a wearable device to detect respiratory obstruction during sedation or anesthesia—an issue often missed by current monitoring technologies. Traditional methods like the precordial stethoscope, which provided real-time auditory feedback on breath sounds, were sidelined by less invasive technologies that, while improving clinician mobility, lack sensitivity to certain types of obstructions. TAM combines the advantages of historical and modern methods by utilizing a novel, wearable device that captures crucial acoustic data without limiting mobility. We have created a functional, wired prototype and are advancing towards a wireless design for clinical trials. Our objective is to assess TAM's impact on reducing the incidence and severity of hypoxemia in patients during procedures and in recovery rooms to address the unrecognized respiratory obstruction that can lead to severe complications.

Team Members