Voice Prosthesis Device

• US 20060287722A1
• Filed: 06/02/2006
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Helix Medical LLC (Freudenberg & Company KG)
• Original Assignee: Helix Medical Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Nelson, Jesse N.
• Application Number:
  US11/421,898
• Publication Number:
  US 20060287722A1
• 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

Abstract

A voice prosthesis device provides a passageway between a tracheal end of the device and an esophageal end of the device. A valve in the passageway includes a seat having a first hardness and a movable valve member having a second hardness harder than the first hardness. The movable valve member closes against the seat to close the valve.

Claims

1. A voice prosthesis device providing a passageway between a tracheal end of the device and an esophageal end of the device, a valve in the passageway, the valve including a seat having a first hardness and a movable valve member having a second hardness harder than the first hardness, the movable valve member closing against the seat to close the valve.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the valve comprises a ring providing a seat, a hinge member provided on the ring, the hinge member and ring being unitarily formed from elastomeric material.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein one of the movable valve member and hinge member includes a first feature and the other of the movable valve member and hinge member includes a complementary second feature for engaging the first feature to mount the movable valve member from the hinge member.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein one of the movable valve member and hinge member includes a first feature and the other of the movable valve member and hinge member includes a second feature, the device further including a third member including a first portion complementarily configured to the first feature for engaging the first feature and a second portion complementarily configured to the second feature for engaging the second feature to mount the movable valve member from the hinge member.

5. The device of claim 2 including an adhesive for mounting the movable valve member from the hinge member.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the valve comprises a seat, a hinge member at the esophageal end of the device, the hinge member and seat being formed from an elastomeric material.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein one of the movable valve member and hinge member includes a first feature and the other of the movable valve member and hinge member including a complementary second feature for engaging the first feature to mount the movable valve member from the hinge member.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein one of the movable valve member and hinge member includes a first feature and the other of the movable valve member and hinge member includes a second feature, the device further including a third member including a first portion complementarily configured to the first feature for engaging the first feature and a second portion complementarily configured to the second feature for engaging the second feature to mount the movable valve member from the hinge member.

9. The device of claim 6 including an adhesive for mounting the movable valve member from the hinge member.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the valve comprises a seat in the passageway, a hinge member in the passageway, the hinge member and seat being formed from elastomeric material.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein one of the movable valve member and hinge member includes a first feature and the other of the movable valve member and hinge member includes a complementary second feature for engaging the first feature to mount the movable valve member from the hinge member.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein one of the movable valve member and hinge member includes a first feature and the other of the movable valve member and hinge member includes a second feature, the device further including a third member including a first portion complementarily configured to the first feature for engaging the first feature and a second portion complementarily configured to the second feature for engaging the second feature to mount the movable valve member from the hinge member.

13. The device of claim 10 including an adhesive for mounting the movable valve member from the hinge member.

18. The device of claim 1 wherein the passageway and the seat are unitarily formed from an elastomeric material

19. The device of claim 18 wherein the valve comprises a hinge member at the esophageal end of the device, the hinge member and seat being formed from an elastomeric material.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein one of the movable valve member and hinge member includes a first feature and the other of the movable valve member and hinge member includes a complementary second feature for engaging the first feature to mount the movable valve member from the hinge member.

21. The device of claim 19 wherein one of the movable valve member and hinge member includes a first feature and the other of the movable valve member and hinge member includes a second feature, the device further including a third member including a first portion complementarily configured to the first feature for engaging the first feature and a second portion complementarily configured to the second feature for engaging the second feature to mount the movable valve member from the hinge member.

22. The device of claim 19 including an adhesive for mounting the movable valve member from the hinge member.

23. The device of claim 18 wherein the seat is in the passageway, the valve further including a hinge member in the passageway, the hinge member and seat being formed from elastomeric material.

24. The device of claim 23 wherein one of the movable valve member and hinge member includes a first feature and the other of the movable valve member and hinge member includes a complementary second feature for engaging the first feature to mount the movable valve member from the hinge member.

25. The device of claim 23 wherein one of the movable valve member and hinge member includes a first feature and the other of the movable valve member and hinge member includes a second feature, the device further including a third member including a first portion complementarily configured to the first feature for engaging the first feature and a second portion complementarily configured to the second feature for engaging the second feature to mount the movable valve member from the hinge member.

26. The device of claim 23 including an adhesive for mounting the movable valve member from the hinge member.

14. A voice prosthesis device providing a passageway between a tracheal end of the device and an esophageal end of the device, a valve formed at the esophageal end of the passageway, the valve including a first member having a first hardness and a second member having a second hardness greater than the first hardness, the second member closing against the first member to close the valve.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the first member is formed from an elastomeric material and the second member is formed from a less elastic material than the elastomeric material.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the first member and passageway are unitarily formed from the elastomeric material.

17. The device of claim 14 comprising a duckbill voice prosthesis having a somewhat dome-shaped or conical esophageal end formed from an elastomeric material and provided with a slit forming the valve.