Antimicrobial indwelling voice prosthesis

• US 20050171602A1
• Filed: 03/29/2005
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Freudenberg Medical, LLC (Freudenberg & Company KG)
• Original Assignee: Helix Medical LLC (Freudenberg & Company KG)
• Inventors: Goldberg, Jeffrey L., Madrigal, Juan M., Nelson, Jesse N., Seder, Edmund V.
• Granted Patent: US 8,317,861 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/203 comprising an air passage from trachea to oesophagus or to pharynx; Artificial epiglottis
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/404 Biocides, antimicrobial agents, antiseptic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/606 Coatings
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/54 Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L27/227 takes precedence

Abstract

A voice prosthesis comprising a tubular body portion, a valve and a valve seat disposed within the body portion. The valve seat is further comprised of a medical grade elastomer containing a dispersion of an antimicrobial agent. This valve seat extends the life of the prosthesis by retarding the growth of microorganisms. The body portion of the prosthesis may also contain an antimicrobial agent at a concentration that is non-toxic to the tissue it contacts.

Claims

1. A voice prosthesis for conducting air between the trachea and esophagus of a patient comprising, in combination:

(a) a tubular body portion having a length, a rear flange at a rear end thereof, a front flange at a forward end thereof and a central lumen coextensive with said length;

(b) a valve seat disposed within said central lumen of said body portion, said valve seat having a second central lumen;

(c) a valve mounted on an end of said valve seat and operable for intermittently sealing and opening said second central lumen;

wherein said body portion and said valve seat are made from a biocompatible elastomer, and wherein said valve seat further comprises an antimicrobial material.

2. A voice prosthesis according to claim 1 wherein said biocompatible elastomer is silicone.

3. A voice prosthesis according to claim 1 in which said valve is formed of a biocompatible elastomer containing an antimicrobial material.

4. A voice prosthesis according to claim 1 in which said valve and said valve seat are formed of a biocompatible elastomer containing an antimicrobial material.

5. A voice prosthesis according to claim 1 in which the antimicrobial material is a metal and salts and oxides thereof or organic antimicrobial materials.

6. A voice prosthesis according to claim 5 in which the antimicrobial material is silver oxide dispersed in said elastomer in a concentration sufficient to retard microbial growth on said elastomer.