FR3079740A1 - DEVICE FOR CLEANING A PHONATORY IMPLANT - Google Patents

Abstract

A phonatory implant cleaning device 99 comprising a body 9, a cap 20 and an extensible brush head 1, wherein the brush head 1 is configured to move from a first position near the body to a second distal position of the body 9, and the cap 20 is configured to close on the body 9 and the brush head 1 when the brush head 1 is in the first position. Device 99 is contemplated for use with a speech implant and may include an illumination source 5.

Description

PHONATORY IMPLANT CLEANING DEVICE

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a device for cleaning a phonatory implant, in particular a device for cleaning tracheal valves, valves for phonatory implants or the like.

Technological background

The growing progress of medical science has allowed an evolution of tracheoesophageal surgeries and a significant number of people who have undergone a laryngectomy live with phonatory implants.

Laryngectomy is a surgery involving the removal of the larynx and therefore the vocal cords, located inside it. During such a surgical operation or after, an intervention making it possible to surgically create an opening between the trachea and the esophagus (tubal way between the throat and the stomach), can be carried out. Such intervention can restore a person's ability to speak after the vocal cords have been removed with the creation of a fistula between the trachea and the esophagus, puncturing the short segment of tissue or the wall that separates them. A phonatory implant can then be inserted into this opening which keeps food out of the windpipe, but allows air to allow the esophageal voice.

However, the phonatory implant should be cleaned regularly. Indeed, it is exposed to fungi (such as Candida) and bacteria present in the digestive tract. If these fungi develop on or in the valve area of the phonatory implant, it may not close well enough and liquid begins to seep into the trachea when the user eats or drinks which could have serious consequences for his health.

State of the art

The document WO 200 785 877 (SAMUEL) describes a tracheal valve cleaning apparatus comprising a fluid distributor with a fluid reservoir and an outlet; a cleaning element mounted near the outlet; and a drive mechanism comprising an element axially mounted in said fluid distributor, in which the axial movement of the element of the drive mechanism towards the outlet causes both the cleaning element and the fluid to be rotated. distribute from the outlet.

Document WO 200 281 108 (MOORE et al.) Describes a brush which can be used to facilitate the cleaning of a passage defined by a medical device, the brush comprising: (a) an atraumatic tip having proximal and distal ends; (b) a braided filling wire having proximal and distal ends and comprising a filling section, said distal end of said filling wire being connected to said proximal end of said atraumatic tip; (c) a rod having proximal and distal ends, said distal end of said rod being connected to said proximal end of said filler wire; (d) an inner sheath covering part of said filler wire; and (e) an outer sheath covering at least said inner sheath and part of said shaft.

WO 200 264 271 (SEDER et al) describes a brush for a phonatory implant having a soft and hollow external body with a body passing through a channel and a cavity, a hard cartridge or a valve support disposed in the body and having a second channel with a proximal end with a diameter smaller than the body channel providing a wall surface extending into the channel, the brush comprising: a rod portion having a distal face with a diameter greater than the diameter of the proximal end of the cartridge, a brush portion extending from the proximal face of the rod and capable of entering the channel of the cartridge and contacting and cleaning the walls of the channel; the external part of the proximal face of the rod being stopped by the extension of the wall surface of the cartridge or of the valve support in the channel of the body.

The need to overcome the problems encountered on existing devices has led to the present invention.

Summary of the invention

According to the present invention, there is provided a phonatory implant cleaning device comprising a body, a cap and an extendable brush head, the brush head being configured to move from a first position close to the body up to a second distal position of the body, and the cap is configured to close on the body and on the brush head when the brush head is in the first position.

In some embodiments, the brush head is carried on an elongated member, which can be configured to extend from the body under the effect of a stress and / or a spring.

For example in some embodiments, the elongate member includes a base near the body and carries or supports or supplies the distal brush head to the body.

The elongate member may be substantially rigid, for example made with thermoplastics, a polymer, a metal or an alloy.

The brush head can include a plurality of bristles, which can be arranged to extend radially from the end of the elongate member.

The bristles can be considered to be thermoplastic or polymeric, and thin and flexible and arranged along a section of the elongated member or near its end. In this way, the device can effectively cleanse inside of a tracheal valve or a phonatory implant.

The brush head can be fixed axially relative to the body, and the body can be configured to be a cylindrical or similar shape, ideally having a profile, in section, circular. Advantageously, this can allow easy rotation of the body and the brush head.

In some embodiments, the body includes a light source. In certain embodiments, such a light source can be directed or orientable along the elongated element so as to illuminate the brush head and its surroundings.

In some embodiments, the light source may include one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs). These can be controlled and powered at the body level, in which the body can include a battery and control means. The battery, in certain embodiments, can be rechargeable, for example by displacement and replacement or in which the body comprises a charging socket.

In some embodiments, the brush head is driven to move from one position to another by a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism may be configured to retract the brush head to the first position, wherein the device may include a locking mechanism for holding the brush head in the second position for use. The locking mechanism may, for example, include a rotary element.

Alternatively or in addition, the drive mechanism can be configured to deploy the brush head in the second position, the device may include a locking mechanism for holding the brush head in the first position for transport or storage. The locking mechanism, for example, may include a rotary element.

For example in some embodiments, the device may include a handle or handles or a manual drive mechanism or controls, which can be pushed along the body to extend the brush head. The body may therefore include a slot so that the control (s) can (s) be moved (s).

The controls can then be locked using the locking mechanism, for example by turning the controls to place them in a locking notch. Then, after use, the controls can be removed from the locking notch and the drive mechanism can retract the brush head into the body.

The drive mechanism can thus include a compression or torsion spring.

In some embodiments, the brush head can be configured to retract completely inside the body.

In others, the cap can form a cover on the brush head, the elongate member being able to retract partially or completely in the body in the first position.

The cap, in some embodiments, may include a clip, for example a flexible clip member, and may resemble a pen cover with a clip known from the prior art. In this way, the device can advantageously be carried discreetly, resembling a standard pen until it is used.

In other embodiments, the cap can be partially movable, for example comprising a hinged cover.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief description of the figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention in the second position and without plug;

Figure 2 shows an inverted isometric view of the embodiment as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows an isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, with a cap and in the second position;

Figure 4 shows an inverted isometric view of the embodiment as shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 shows a sectional view of the embodiment as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 6 shows a sectional view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, in the first position; and

Figure 7 shows a schematic view of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1, in use.

Detailed description of the Figures

Referring to the figures, there is generally shown an embodiment of the device 99 according to the present invention, comprising a phonatory implant cleaning device comprising a body 9, a cap 20 and an extendable brush head 1, in which the head brush 1 is configured to move from a first position close to the body 9 to a second position distal from the body 9, and the cap 20 is arranged to close on the body 9 and on the brush head 1 when the brush head 1 is in the first position.

With particular reference to the embodiment shown, the embodiment comprises an outer pen-like shape, comprising a fully movable cap 20, which cap comprises a flexible clamp element 21 extending longitudinally to the axis of the mode of realization, common in the art of pens.

The embodiment is mainly discreet, so that a user is able to keep the embodiment with him at all times, without attracting unwanted attention from other people in public places, for example.

The brush head 1 has an elongated arrangement, with bristles extending radially, formed from microfibers or thin thermoplastics or polymer.

The brush head extends centrally but is generally cylindrical.

The brush head extends axially from a rigid elongate member 3, which has a collar 2 extending radially further than the bristles of the brush head. The brush head is supported on the collar with a central metal support core 33.

The elongated element extends in the body through a hole 39 in the neck 44 of the body 9.

The neck 44 has four transparent or translucent windows 4 regularly spaced around the central perforation 39 for the passage of the elongated member 3, and covering the source of illumination. The source of illumination 5 is directed towards the brush head 1 and comprises four light-emitting diodes. In some embodiments, the windows may include apertures, or lenses which can be configured to distribute the light outward and / or toward the throat of the user in use.

The elongate element 3 comprises two molded control handles 6 extending radially through a slot 11 in the wall of the body, or more particularly through two parallel slots 11 on each side of the body.

Each slot 11 has a locking notch 12 situated substantially in the center along the length of the elongated body 9. The control handles 6 rest in the locking notches 12 on each side of the body 9 when the brush head 1 is placed or blocked in the first position and include protruding planar tabs to help push along the slot and rotate in the locking notches 12.

The elongate member 3 extends beyond the locking notches, and a basal collar 7 acts to push against a compression spring 8 which is supported on an internal base wall 88 forming the base of the main internal section body 9. Beyond this base wall at the end of the body, there is a universal serial port (USB) 10 for charging a battery (not shown).

The invention has been described by way of example only and the embodiments mentioned above may vary without being excluded from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims, in particular, but not only, a combination of features of the embodiments described.

Claims (6)

claims 1. A phonatory implant cleaning device (99) comprising a body (9), a cap (20) and an extendable brush head (1), the brush head (1) being configured to move from a first position close to the body (9) to a second distal position of the body (9), and the cap (20) is configured to close on the body (9) and on the brush head (1) when the head brush (1) is in the first position. 2. Use of the device (99) according to claim 1, for cleaning a phonatory implant valve. 3. Device (99) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cap (20) comprises a flexible clamp element (21). 4. Device (99) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the brush head (1) comprises a plurality of bristles. 5. Device (99) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a source of illumination (5). 6. Device (99) according to claim 5, wherein the illumination source (5) is directed towards the brush head (1).