Laryngeal prosthesis
US3952335A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 25, 1974 |
| Grant date | Apr 27, 1976 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 25, 1994 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61M16/0488
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A laryngeal prosthesis for a post-laryngectomy patient includes a control valve, a fitting, and a conduit operatively communicating the control valve and fitting. The control valve has a housing defining a chamber therewithin. The housing is provided with a tracheal opening adapted to communicate with the patient's trachea through a tracheal fistula, a diversion opening, and a control opening surrounded by an internal seat. A flapper is arranged within the housing to move toward and away from the seat. The fitting includes an inlet opening and an outlet opening adapted to communicate with the patient's hypopharynx through a hypopharyngeal fistula. The conduit communicates the diversion opening with the fitting inlet opening. The prosthesis enables the patient to inhale, exhale and cough through the control opening, and to speak alaryngeally by selectively diverting exhaled air from the tracheal fistula to the hypopharyngeal fistula.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.