Surgical implant for a voice prosthesis
US4911716A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 12, 1989 |
| Grant date | Mar 27, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 12, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F2/203
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A surgical implant for use in voice restoration comprises a length of coiled spring. The length of coiled spring has a first end adapted for positioning adjacent the anterior wall of the esophagus of the wearer of the surgical implant and a second end adapted for positioning adjacent the posterior wall of the trachea. A voice prosthesis device for use with the surgical implant comprises a right circular cylinder, the outside diameter of which is substantially equal to the inside diameter of the length of coiled spring. This permits insertion of the voice prosthetic device from the tracheal end of the implant thereinto, as well as removal of the voice prosthetic device for cleaning, repair, or replacement. The voice prosthetic device contains a one-way valve permitting air flow from the tracheal end thereof to the esophageal end thereof, to provide the wearer with esophageal speech.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.