Voice Prosthesis Device

Abstract

A voice prosthesis device includes a barrel defining a passageway, a tracheal flange adjacent a tracheal end of the barrel and an esophageal flange adjacent an esophageal end of the barrel. The passageway includes a first stop extending inwardly from a sidewall of the passageway between the tracheal and esophageal ends and a plurality of second stops extending inwardly from the sidewall of the passageway between the first stop and the esophageal end of the passageway. A valve mechanism is located between the first and second stops and permits flow through the passageway from the tracheal end and impedes flow through the passageway from the esophageal end.

1 . A method of making a voice prosthesis device for insertion into a tracheoesophageal opening of a wearer, the method comprising forming a barrel providing a passageway therethrough, forming adjacent a tracheal end of the barrel a tracheal flange, forming adjacent an esophageal end of the barrel an esophageal flange, forming in the passageway a first stop extending inwardly from a sidewall of the passageway between the tracheal and esophageal ends, and forming in the passageway a plurality of second stops extending inwardly from the sidewall of the passageway between the first stop and the esophageal end of the passageway, and inserting between the first stop and the plurality of second stops a valve mechanism permitting flow through the passageway from the tracheal end and impeding flow through the passageway from the esophageal end. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein forming in the passageway a plurality of second stops comprises forming in the passageway a plurality of second stops perimetrally substantially uniformly spaced about the sidewall. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein inserting between the first stop and the plurality of second stops a valve mechanism comprises inserting between the first stop and the plurality of second stops a cartridge, providing in the cartridge a valve seat, providing in the cartridge a valve closure, and providing in the cartridge means for mounting the valve closure for movement between the valve seat and positions away from the valve seat. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein providing in the cartridge a valve closure and providing in the cartridge means for mounting the valve closure comprises unitarily forming the valve closure and the means for mounting the valve closure from a resilient elastomer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein providing in the cartridge means for mounting the valve closure comprises providing an elastomeric ring, providing on the elastomeric ring an elastomeric hinge element, and forming the valve closure on a second end of the elastomeric hinge element. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein providing in the cartridge means for mounting the valve closure comprises providing on the cartridge a groove opening radially outwardly from an axis of the voice prosthesis for accommodating the elastomeric ring and providing on the cartridge a notch opening toward one of a tracheal end and an esophageal end of the cartridge for accommodating the elastomeric hinge element. 
     
     
         7 . A method of making a voice prosthesis device comprising providing a first passageway, inserting into the first passageway a valve mechanism for controlling flow through the first passageway, providing on the valve mechanism at least one second passageway that intersects a sidewall of the first passageway when the valve mechanism is inserted into the first passageway, and filling the second passageway with a material to fix the valve mechanism in the first passageway. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein providing on the valve mechanism at least one second passageway that intersects a sidewall of the first passageway when the valve mechanism is inserted into the first passageway comprises providing on the valve mechanism at least one second passageway that extends generally across the first passageway from a sidewall of the first passageway to a sidewall of the first passageway when the valve mechanism is inserted into the first passageway. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein providing on the valve mechanism at least one second passageway that extends generally across the first passageway from a sidewall of the first passageway to a sidewall of the first passageway when the valve mechanism is inserted into the first passageway comprises providing on the valve mechanism two second passageways that extend generally across the first passageway from a sidewall of the first passageway to a sidewall of the first passageway when the valve mechanism is inserted into the first passageway. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein providing on the valve mechanism two second passageways that extend generally across the first passageway from a sidewall of the first passageway to a sidewall of the first passageway when the valve mechanism is inserted into the first passageway comprises providing on the valve mechanism two second passageways that extend generally parallel to each other across the first passageway from a sidewall of the first passageway to a sidewall of the first passageway when the valve mechanism is inserted into the first passageway. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising forming adjacent a tracheal end of the first passageway a tracheal flange and forming adjacent an esophageal end of the first passageway an esophageal flange. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein inserting into the first passageway a valve mechanism comprises inserting into the first passageway a valve mechanism permitting flow through the first passageway from the tracheal end and impeding flow through the first passageway from the esophageal end. 
     
     
         13 . A voice prosthesis device for insertion into a tracheoesophageal opening of a wearer, the voice prosthesis device comprising a first passageway, a valve mechanism for inserting into the first passageway for controlling flow through the first passageway, at least one second passageway provided in the valve mechanism, the at least one second passageway intersecting a sidewall of the first passageway when the valve mechanism is inserted into the first passageway, the second passageway containing a material to fix the valve mechanism in the first passageway. 
     
     
         14 . The voice prosthesis device of  claim 13  wherein the at least one second passageway that intersects a sidewall of the first passageway when the valve mechanism is inserted into the first passageway comprises at least one second passageway that extends generally across the first passageway from a sidewall of the first passageway to a sidewall of the first passageway when the valve mechanism is inserted into the first passageway. 
     
     
         15 . The voice prosthesis device of  claim 14  wherein the at least one second passageway that extends generally across the first passageway from a sidewall of the first passageway to a sidewall of the first passageway when the valve mechanism is inserted into the first passageway comprises two second passageways that extend generally across the first passageway from a sidewall of the first passageway to a sidewall of the first passageway when the valve mechanism is inserted into the first passageway. 
     
     
         16 . The voice prosthesis device of  claim 15  wherein the two second passageways that extend generally across the first passageway from a sidewall of the first passageway to a sidewall of the first passageway when the valve mechanism is inserted into the first passageway comprise two second passageways that extend generally parallel to each other across the first passageway from a sidewall of the first passageway to a sidewall of the first passageway when the valve mechanism is inserted into the first passageway. 
     
     
         17 . The voice prosthesis device of  claim 13  further comprising a tracheal flange adjacent a tracheal end of the first passageway and an esophageal flange adjacent an esophageal end of the first passageway. 
     
     
         18 . The voice prosthesis device of  claim 17  wherein the valve mechanism for inserting into the first passageway for controlling flow through the first passageway comprises a valve mechanism permitting flow through the first passageway from the tracheal end and impeding flow through the first passageway from the esophageal end.