Easy-to-use voice prosthesis loading insertion device

Abstract

A voice prosthesis insertion device includes a slender body having an orifice extending axially along the slender body. The slender body includes a ring member supported at one end by a pair of strips. The slender body has at least one area of ​​increased cross-section. The slender body also has a collapsible portion defined by a pair of openings in the slender body. A rod is disposed in the orifice of the slender body and includes a plug suitable for insertion into the orifice of a tether of a voice prosthesis device. The collapsible portion of the slender body is flexible to allow the collapsible portion to collapse longitudinally to expose the plug of the rod so as to easily engage with the strip of the voice prosthesis, and the collapsible portion is capable of extending from a collapsed position to extend over the plug.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a voice prosthesis insertion device, and more particularly to a voice prosthesis insertion device in which a voice prosthesis can be easily loaded. Background Art

[0002] This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

[0003] During a total laryngectomy, the larynx is removed and two separate tubes are created for swallowing and breathing / speaking. The mouth is connected to the esophagus, creating one tube for swallowing. The windpipe is redirected to create a permanent hole in the surface of the neck, creating one tube for breathing. This hole is called a tracheostomy (TRAY-kee-oh STOW-ma) or simply a "stoma." After this surgery, the nose and mouth are not connected to the lungs.

[0004] It is known to provide tracheoesophageal prostheses (or voice prostheses) to restore a person's ability to speak after a laryngectomy. Tracheoesophageal (TE) speech tends to be easier to produce and learn than esophageal speech, and sounds more natural than using an electric larynx. A small hole or puncture is made in the common wall between the trachea and the esophagus. The puncture is visible inside the stoma and becomes a path for airflow into the esophagus. A voice prosthesis is inserted into the puncture to hold it open, and includes a small silicone one-way valve. The voice prosthesis also prevents food and liquid from flowing from the esophagus into the trachea. Voice prostheses are usually installed surgically.

[0005] The present disclosure recognizes a need for an improved voice prosthesis insertion device that allows for easier loading and installation of a voice prosthesis. Summary of the invention

[0006] This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

[0007] A voice prosthesis insertion device includes a slender body having an orifice extending axially along the slender body. The slender body includes a ring member supported at one end by a pair of strips. The slender body has at least one area of ​​increased cross-section. The slender body also has a collapsible portion defined by a pair of openings in the slender body. A rod is disposed in the orifice of the slender body and includes a peg adapted to be inserted into the orifice of a tether of a voice prosthesis device. The collapsible portion of the slender body is flexible to allow the collapsible portion to collapse longitudinally to expose the peg of the rod for easy engagement with the strip of the voice prosthesis, and the collapsible portion is capable of extending from a collapsed position to extend over the peg.

[0008] Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein.The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0010] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a phonatory prosthesis inserter device according to the principles of the present disclosure;

[0011] Figure 2 is a top plan view of a phonatory prosthesis inserter device according to the principles of the present disclosure;

[0012] Figure 3 is along Figure 2 A longitudinal cross-sectional view of the voice prosthesis inserter device taken along line 3-3;

[0013] Figure 4 is a side plan view of a phonatory prosthesis inserter device according to the principles of the present disclosure;

[0014] Figure 5 is along Figure 4 A longitudinal cross-sectional view of the voice prosthesis inserter device taken along line 5-5;

[0015] Figure 6 is a top plan view of a voice prosthesis inserter device showing the collapsible portion in a folded / retracted position; and

[0016] Figure 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a voice prosthesis inserter device showing a voice prosthesis device loaded therein.

[0017] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0019] Exemplary embodiments are provided so that the disclosure will be complete and will fully convey the scope to those skilled in the art. A large number of specific details (such as examples of specific parts, devices and methods) are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that the exemplary embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and that any embodiment should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure. In some exemplary embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures and well-known technologies are not described in detail.

[0020] refer to Figures 1 to 5 The voice prosthesis inserter device 10 shown includes an elongated inserter body 12 and a bolt rod 14 located within a longitudinal aperture 16 in the elongated inserter body 12 (in Figure 3 1). The elongated inserter body 12 is made of a flexible material and includes a first end 12a having a pair of planar portions 18 that provide a grip for improved user manipulation. A hole 20 communicating with the longitudinal orifice 16 is provided in the first end 12a for receiving a cable or a longitudinal stringer (not shown). The elongated inserter body 12 includes at least one tapered region 24a, 24b that increases in diameter toward the second end 12b of the elongated inserter body 12. In the illustrated embodiment, two tapered regions 24a, 24b are shown. The elongated inserter body 12 also includes a ring 26 supported by a pair of outwardly curved strips 28 that are also connected to the tapered region 24b.

[0021] refer to Figure 3 The bolt rod 14 includes an elongated body 140 having a flat region 142 at one end, wherein a bolt 144 extends from the flat region 142. The elongated body 140 also includes a recessed region 146 (at Figure 7 ), the recessed area is engaged by a retainer projection 16a within the aperture 16 of the elongated inserter body 12. Figure 5 As shown, the bolt rod 14 also includes a longitudinal strip attachment feature 148 for receiving a longitudinal strip (not shown). The longitudinal strip may include a flexible plastic strand that may be bent into a hook at one end for engagement with the longitudinal strip attachment feature 148 and then passed through the hole 20. The elongated inserter body 12 captures the hooked end of the longitudinal strip within the longitudinal strip attachment feature.

[0022] The elongated inserter body also includes a collapsible portion 30 disposed adjacent the tapered region 24b and distal to the pair of outwardly curved strips 28. The collapsible portion 30 is defined by a pair of opposing openings 32a, 32b separated by a pair of collapsible sidewall portions 34. The opposing openings 32a, 32b may be of different sizes or of the same size and are designed to provide the elongated inserter body with a plurality of openings 32a, 32b that are spaced apart from each other. Figure 6 The collapsible sidewall portion 34 is shown as being capable of longitudinal collapse, wherein the collapsible sidewall portion 34 folds over itself to allow the tapered region 24b to longitudinally retract so as to expose the peg 144 and the flat region 142 of the peg shaft. When the peg 144 of the peg shaft 14 is exposed with the tapered region 24b longitudinally retracted, the user is able to insert the peg 144 into the opening 50 in the tether 52 of the voice prosthesis device 54, as shown in FIG. Figure 7 is best shown in .

[0023] exist Figure 7 , a voice prosthesis 54 is shown with the opening 50 of the tether 52 engaged with the bolt 144 and the collapsible portion 30 in an undeformed state such that the tapered region 24b covers the bolt 144 and the ring 26 is disposed around the tubular body 56 and between the flanges 58a, 58b of the voice prosthesis 54 such that the voice prosthesis insertion device 10 is loaded and ready for use. In use, a tracheoesophageal puncture is surgically formed between the esophagus and trachea of ​​the patient. The longitudinal strip can be passed through the tracheoesophageal puncture and entered through the patient's mouth. The longitudinal strip is then fed through the hole 20 in the elongated inserter body 12 and connected to the voice prosthesis insertion device 10 by engaging the longitudinal strip to the longitudinal strip attachment feature 148 of the bolt rod 14. The longitudinal strips can then be used to pull the voice prosthesis insertion device 10 through the patient's mouth, down the esophagus and out through the tracheoesophageal puncture where the voice prosthesis is deployed with flange 58b on the esophageal side and flange 58a and tether 52 on the tracheal side. The tracheoesophageal puncture can be accessed through a stoma in the patient's neck.

[0024] The terms used herein are only used to describe the purpose of specific exemplary embodiments, and are not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms "one", "a kind of" and "said" may be intended to also include plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms "include", "comprise", "cover" and "have" are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of the features, integers, steps, operations, elements and / or parts, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, parts and / or their groups. The method steps, processes and operations described herein should not be interpreted as necessarily needing to be performed in the specific order discussed or described, unless specifically indicated as an execution order. It should also be understood that additional or alternative steps can be adopted.

[0025] When an element or layer is referred to as being "on another element or layer," "engaged to," "connected to," or "coupled to" another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged to, connected to, or coupled to another element or layer, or there may be intermediate elements or layers. Conversely, when an element is referred to as being "directly on another element or layer," "directly engaged to," "directly connected to," or "directly coupled to" another element or layer, there may be no intermediate elements or layers. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a similar manner (e.g., "between" versus "directly between," "adjacent" versus "directly adjacent," etc.). As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0026] Although the terms first, second, third, etc. can be used to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and / or sections in this article, these elements, components, regions, layers and / or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may only be used to distinguish an element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as "first", "second" and other numerical items do not imply order or sequence when used in this article unless the context clearly indicates. Therefore, the first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below may be referred to as the second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teaching of the exemplary embodiment.

[0027] For ease of description, spatially relative terms such as "inside", "outside", "under", "below", "lower", "above", "upper", etc. may be used herein to describe the relationship of one element or feature relative to another one or more elements or features as shown in the drawings. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation shown in the figures. For example, if the device in the figure is flipped, then the elements described as being "under" or "below" other elements or features will be oriented to be "above" the other elements or features. Therefore, the exemplary term "below" may include both the above and below orientations. The device may be oriented in other ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatially relative descriptors used herein are interpreted accordingly.

[0028] For the purpose of illustration and description, the foregoing description of the embodiment has been provided. This description is not intended to be exhaustive or limit the present disclosure. The individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but are interchangeable where appropriate, and can be used in selected embodiments, even if not specifically shown or described. Also can be changed in many ways. Such changes should not be considered as departing from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A voice prosthesis insertion device, comprising: an elongated inserter body having a first end and a second end and including an aperture therein extending axially along the elongated inserter body, the elongated inserter body including a ring member supported by a pair of straps at the second end, the elongated inserter body having a collapsible portion; and A rod is disposed in the aperture of the elongated inserter body, the rod including a first end and a second end, and the second end of the rod includes a plug extending from the second end of the rod, the plug being adapted to be inserted into the aperture of a tether of a voice prosthesis device, wherein the collapsible portion of the elongated inserter body is flexible to allow the elongated inserter body to collapse longitudinally to expose the plug of the rod for engagement with a strap of a voice prosthesis, and the elongated inserter body is extendable from a collapsed position to extend over the plug.

2. The voice prosthesis insertion device of claim 1, wherein the collapsible portion comprises a pair of opposing openings in the elongated inserter body.

3. The voice prosthesis insertion device of claim 1, wherein the elongated inserter body includes a pair of planar portions on the first end of the elongated inserter body.

4. The voice prosthesis insertion device of claim 1, wherein the first end of the elongated inserter body includes an aperture for receiving a longitudinal strip, and the rod has a longitudinal strip attachment feature.

5. A voice prosthesis insertion device, comprising: an elongated inserter body having a first end and a second end and including an aperture therein extending axially along the elongated inserter body, the elongated inserter body including a ring member supported by a pair of straps at the second end, wherein the elongated inserter body has at least one region between the first end and the second end, the at least one region having an outer diameter that increases as the at least one region extends toward the second end, the elongated inserter body also having a collapsible portion defined by a pair of openings in the elongated inserter body; and A rod is disposed in the orifice of the slender inserter body, the rod including a first end and a second end, and the second end of the rod includes a flat area, wherein a bolt extends from the flat area, and the bolt is suitable for insertion into the orifice of the tether of the voice prosthesis device, wherein the collapsible portion of the slender inserter body is flexible to allow the collapsible portion to collapse longitudinally to expose the bolt of the rod for engagement with the strip of the voice prosthesis, and the collapsible portion is capable of extending from the collapsed portion to extend over the bolt.

6. The voice prosthesis insertion device of claim 5, wherein the collapsible portion comprises a pair of opposing openings in the elongated inserter body.

7. The voice prosthesis insertion device of claim 5, wherein the elongated inserter body includes a pair of planar portions on the first end of the elongated inserter body.

8. The voice prosthesis insertion device of claim 5, wherein the first end of the elongated inserter body includes an aperture for receiving a longitudinal strip, and the rod has a longitudinal strip attachment feature.

9. A method of loading a voice prosthesis into a voice prosthesis insertion device, the method comprising: forming a voice prosthesis insertion device comprising an elongated inserter body having a first end with a loop and a second end and including an aperture therein extending axially along the elongated inserter body, the elongated inserter body having a collapsible portion and a peg disposed in the aperture of the elongated body and covered by the elongated inserter body; collapsing the collapsible portion of the elongated inserter body to retract a portion of the elongated inserter body from the plug; inserting the peg into an aperture in a tether of a voice prosthesis device and extending the collapsible portion of the elongated inserter body so that the collapsible portion of the elongated inserter body covers the peg; as well as The tubular body of the voice prosthesis is inserted through the ring.

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