[Fiber optic sensor technology in the endotracheal tube]

The measurement of individual respiratory parameters in the vicinity of the lungs remains an unresolved problem in the areas of anesthesia and intensive care medicine. New technologies such as fibreoptic technology, which meet the extreme demands of medical sensor applications, and their innovative potential as a basis for the development of marketable products, appear promising. This is illustrated by the fundamental principles developed for a sensor-armed tracheal tube for on-line monitoring of ventilated patients.