DE202010014245U1 - Artificial nose with speaking valve - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for insertion into a tracheostoma prosthesis or a tracheostoma patch comprising a cylindrical housing (1) and a cylindrical valve element (2), wherein the housing (1) has a first opening (17) for connection to the stoma of the patient and at least one second opening (14) on the opposite side and the valve element (2) in the second opening (14) of the housing (1) for closing the second opening (14) is provided, wherein the valve element (2) is suitable by means of a Finger manually closed and to be opened by resilient return, characterized in that the housing (1) surrounds the valve element (2) and the valve element (2) receives a moisture and heat exchanging filter, wherein a cylindrical spring element (3) between the housing (1) and the valve element (2) is arranged.

Description

The present invention relates to an artificial nose with speaking valve in the form of a device for insertion into a tracheostomy prosthesis or a tracheostoma patch.

Tracheostomy prostheses (also called tracheostomy tubes or tracheostomy tubes) for the treatment of laryngectomized patients with opened throat (see also Tracheostoma) have been known for decades. These prostheses are available as versions with and without speaking valve, in recent years, the various embodiments with speaking valve have gained more and more importance in the rehabilitation of laryngectomized patients, as they are enabled by speaker succession in the patient.

The tracheostoma tubes with speaking valve usually consist of a tracheostomy tube with cannula shield and a valve receiving part for holding an external speaking valve, wherein an inner speaking valve of the tracheostomy tube is mounted in a tube between the esophagus and trachea, so that when the tracheal stoma (with closed external speaking valve) air can escape through the inner speaking valve in the direction of the mouth and thereby vibrations are generated in the upper area of the esophagus to speak. The blocking of the tracheostoma takes place manually by closing the outer speaking valve on the outside of the tracheostomy tube.

Due to a laryngectomy and the subsequent use of a tracheostomy prosthesis, the connection between the nose and lungs of the laryngectomized patient is interrupted, so that the natural function of the nose (heating, humidification and filtering of the breathing air, as well as building a certain breathing resistance) are no longer guaranteed ,

In the prior art, moisture and heat exchangers (also referred to as artificial noses or HME) for placement on tracheostomy tubes or tracheostoma tubes are known.

The moisture and heat exchangers remove moisture and heat from the air exhaled by the patient and release it back to the inhaled air, simultaneously filtering the breathing air to prevent particles from entering the respiratory tract of the patient and through the filter a certain breathing resistance is built up.

DE 694 05 587 T2 discloses a device for insertion into a tracheostoma having a filter housing for receiving a moisture and heat exchanging filter, the filter housing having a first opening for connection to the stoma of the patient and at least one second opening on the opposite side of the filter in a flow direction of the respiratory air , In this case, a valve element is provided in the second opening of the filter housing for closing the second opening, wherein the valve element is adapted to be manually closed by means of a finger and opened by resilient return.

The invention has for its object to provide a device for insertion into a tracheostomy, which allows speaking of the laryngectomized patient by means of inhaled and executed breathing air with simultaneous heating, humidification and filtering of the breathing air and the construction of a certain breathing resistance, and at the same time an inflow of Saliva is prevented in the trachea, so that the respiratory tract of the patient is spared and a coughing of the patient as a result of speaking is prevented. In particular, in the intended use of the device larger particles are to be removed in a kind of self-cleaning of the filter used.

This object is achieved by a device for insertion into a tracheostoma according to the first protection claim. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subordinate claims.

The essence of the invention is to provide a novel device for insertion into a tracheostoma prosthesis or a tracheostoma patch comprising a housing and a valve element, the housing having a first opening for connection to the stoma of a patient and at least one second opening on the opposite side and the valve element is provided in the second opening of the housing for closing the second opening, and in which the valve element is adapted to be manually closed by a finger and opened by resilient return, the housing enclosing the valve element, the valve element receives a moisture and heat exchanging filter and a cylindrical spring element is disposed between the housing and the valve element.

In this case, the housing according to the invention has an upper and a lower guide ring, between which there are guide webs with lateral recesses (openings) for the passage of breathing air.

The valve element according to the invention has a lid and a wall with lateral recesses, said recesses correspond in position and shape with the openings of the housing, so that the respiratory air can pass through them when the device is used as intended. On the wall under the cover at least two guide tabs are provided which engage in the recesses of the guide webs of the housing, so that the guide lugs are movable in the guide webs between two end points.

The filter is disposed between the cover and the wall of the valve element, wherein the spring element is supported below the filter between the valve element and the housing.

The device according to the invention is manufactured as a disposable article from plastics and can easily be coupled with known tracheal cannulas, tracheostoma tubes or tracheostoma patches by the outer wall of the housing having a customary diameter and provided with a bead on the side facing the stroma, so that an attachment and Arritieren the device to the tracheostomy tubes, tracheostomy tubes or tracheostomy patches is possible.

The advantage of the device according to the invention is that the filter protrudes from the housing to the outer edge of the housing, so that coarse particles of the introduced breathing air can be retained in the recesses and removed during exhalation, which counteracts a rapid clogging of the device.

In addition, the device according to the invention has the advantage that it has a very flat structure and that it has better respiratory characteristics when used as intended, due to their lateral recesses for the air outlet over the prior art.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the embodiment and the figures. Showing:

1a FIG. 3: a schematic 3-D representation of an embodiment of a device according to the invention in a first viewing direction, FIG.

1b a schematic 3-D representation of the embodiment of the inventive device according to 1 in a second direction,

2a a schematic 3-D view of the housing according to 1a and 1b .

2 B a schematic 3-D representation of the valve element according to 1 and 1b .

2c a schematic 3-D representation of the spring element according to 1a and 1b .

3a a plan view of the device according to 1 and

3b FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the device along the plane AA according to FIG 3a with pressed spring element (corresponds to the closed state of the device).

1a and 1b show a device for insertion into a tracheostoma prosthesis or a tracheostoma patch comprising a cylindrical housing ( 1 ) and a cylindrical valve element ( 2 ), the housing ( 1 ) a first opening ( 17 ) for connection to the stoma of the patient and at least one second opening ( 14 ) on the opposite side and the valve element ( 2 ) in the second opening ( 14 ) of the housing ( 1 ) to close the second opening ( 14 ) is provided, wherein the valve element ( 2 ) is adapted to be closed manually by means of a finger and opened by resilient return.

The housing ( 1 ) encloses the valve element ( 2 ).

The valve element ( 2 ) receives a moisture and heat exchanging filter (not shown in the figure), wherein a cylindrical spring element ( 3 ) below the filter between the housing ( 1 ) and the valve element ( 2 ) is arranged.

The housing ( 1 ), as in 2a shown, an upper guide ring ( 11 ) and a lower guide ring ( 12 ), between which pairs guide webs ( 13 ) with intermediate recesses ( 131 ), wherein between the paired guide webs ( 13 ) lateral openings ( 134 ) are formed so that air through this one and is executable.

The valve element ( 2 ), as in 2 B shown a lid ( 23 ) as well as a wall ( 24 ) with lateral recesses ( 221 ), these recesses ( 221 ) in position and shape with the lateral openings ( 134 ) of the housing ( 1 ) and on the wall ( 24 ) under the lid ( 23 ) at least two guide lugs ( 22 ) provided in the recesses ( 131 ) of the guide webs ( 13 ) of the housing ( 1 ) to grab. The guide lugs ( 22 ) are in the guide webs ( 13 ) movable between two end points.

The filter not shown in the drawing is from the valve element ( 2 ) enclosed. He is between the lid ( 23 ) and the wall ( 24 ) of the valve element ( 2 ), the in 3c illustrated spring element ( 3 ) below the filter between housing ( 1 ) and valve element ( 2 ) is arranged.

The housing ( 1 ) points on the opposite side of the guide rings ( 11 ; 12 ) radial arms ( 15 ) on.

This in 3c illustrated spring element ( 3 ) consists of an upper spring ring ( 31 ) and a lower spring washer ( 32 ), whereby the spring rings ( 31 and 32 ) by elastic spring arms ( 33 ) are interconnected.

The lower edge of the wall ( 24 ) of the valve element ( 2 ) and the radial arms ( 15 ) of the housing ( 1 ) hold the spring washers ( 31 and 32 ).

The guide lugs ( 22 ) are in the recesses ( 131 ) of the guide webs ( 13 ) movable between two end positions.

The device according to the invention is manufactured as a disposable product in a suitable manner from plastic.

So the housing ( 1 ) and the valve element ( 2 ) For example. Of polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP).

The spring element ( 3 ) is made of polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE), for example. Alternatively, however, it may also be made as a coil spring made of medically suitable metal, such as spring steel.

The filter consists, for example, of foamed polyurethane.

When the device according to the invention is used as intended, the filter in the valve element ( 2 ) arranged so that the spring element ( 3 ) is positioned below the filter and the upper spring ring ( 31 ) of the spring element ( 3 ) at the bottom of the wall ( 24 ) of the valve element ( 2 ) and the lower spring ring ( 32 ) of the spring element ( 3 ) on the arms ( 15 ) of the housing ( 1 ) is supported.

By means of the movable spring arms ( 33 ) is the spring element tensioned (depressed position of the spring element) or relaxable (not depressed position of the spring element), resulting in a closing or opening of the second opening ( 14 ) in the housing ( 1 ) by means of the cover ( 23 ) of the valve element ( 2 ) leads.

For speaking, the lid ( 23 ) is slightly pressed by a finger of the patient, so that the previous closing process between the second opening ( 14 ) and lid ( 23 ) is generated (see 3b ). After speaking, the finger is removed, leaving the lid ( 23 ), moved by the force of the spring, the second opening ( 14 ) and the breathing air through the lateral recesses ( 221 ) of the valve element ( 2 ) and the lateral openings ( 14 ) of the housing ( 1 ) can get.

The in the valve element ( 2 ) positioned filter while inhaling the patient particles [in particular in the area of the openings ( 14 )], which are blown out of the filter during exhalation, so that clogging of the filter is prevented by these particles.

All features described in the description, the exemplary embodiments and the following claims may be essential to the invention both individually and in any combination with one another.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

casing

11

upper guide ring

12

lower guide ring

13

guide web

131

recesses

134

lateral opening

14

second opening

15

poor

17

first opening

2

valve element

221

recesses

22

guide nose

23

cover

24

wall

3

spring element

31

Upper spring washer

32

lower spring ring

33

spring arms

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 69405587 T2 [0007]

Claims (10)

Device for insertion into a tracheostoma prosthesis or a tracheostoma patch comprising a cylindrical housing ( 1 ) and a cylindrical valve element ( 2 ), the housing ( 1 ) a first opening ( 17 ) for connection to the stoma of the patient and at least one second opening ( 14 ) on the opposite side and the valve element ( 2 ) in the second opening ( 14 ) of the housing ( 1 ) to close the second opening ( 14 ) is provided, wherein the valve element ( 2 ) is manually closed by a finger and opened by resilient return, characterized in that the housing ( 1 ) the valve element ( 2 ) and the valve element ( 2 ) receives a moisture and heat exchanging filter, wherein a cylindrical spring element ( 3 ) between the housing ( 1 ) and the valve element ( 2 ) is arranged. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that housing ( 1 ) an upper guide ring ( 11 ) and a lower guide ring ( 12 ), between which pairs guide webs ( 13 ) with intermediate recesses ( 131 ), wherein between the paired guide webs ( 13 ) lateral openings ( 134 ) are formed. Device according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that the valve element ( 2 ) a lid ( 23 ) as well as a wall ( 24 ) with lateral recesses ( 221 ), these recesses ( 221 ) in position and shape with the lateral openings ( 134 ) of the housing ( 1 ) and on the wall ( 24 ) under the lid ( 23 ) at least two guide lugs ( 22 ) provided in the recesses ( 131 ) of the guide webs ( 13 ) of the housing ( 1 ) to grab. Device according to claim 2 and 3, characterized in that the filter between the lid ( 23 ) and the wall ( 24 ) of the valve element ( 2 ) is positioned, wherein the spring element ( 3 ) below the filter between housing ( 1 ) and valve element ( 2 ) is arranged. Device according to claim 2 and 4, characterized in that the housing ( 1 ) on the opposite side of the guide rings ( 11 ; 12 ) radial arms ( 15 ) having. Device according to claim 1 and 4, characterized in that the spring element ( 3 ) from an upper spring ring ( 31 ) and a lower spring washer ( 32 ), wherein the spring rings ( 31 and 32 ) by elastic spring arms ( 33 ) are interconnected. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the lower edge of the wall ( 24 ) of the valve element ( 2 ) and the radial arms ( 15 ) of the housing ( 1 ) the spring washers ( 31 and 32 ) and the guide tabs ( 22 ) in the recesses ( 131 ) of the guide webs ( 13 ) are movable between two end positions. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing ( 1 ) and the valve element ( 2 ) consist of polyethylene or polypropylene. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring element ( 3 ) consists of polyethylene or polypropylene or spring steel. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter consists of foamed polyurethane.

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