Tracheostoma Speech Valve with Heat Moisture Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tracheostoma prostheses with speech valves do not effectively warm, moisturize, or filter respiratory air, and allow saliva to enter the trachea, leading to coughing when speaking, while also not efficiently removing larger particles, which can cause rapid clogging.
Innovation Solution
A device with a housing and valve element for tracheostoma insertion, featuring a heat and moisture exchanging filter, a cylindrical spring element, and guide rings and recesses for improved air flow, allowing manual control and self-cleaning of larger particles during exhalation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a speech valve is added to a tracheostoma prosthesis to enable speaking, then the patient can speak successfully, but saliva can enter the trachea causing coughing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a special valve structure as an intermediary between the speech function and the trachea. This valve includes a valve body with a valve opening that can be closed by saliva pressure, acting as a mediator that allows speech while preventing saliva from entering the trachea. The valve element with elastic memory provides automatic closing action when saliva accumulates, resolving the contradiction between enabling speech and preventing harmful saliva entry.
2Temperature
If a heat and moisture exchanger is placed on the tracheostoma to warm and moisturize respiratory air, then the natural function of the nose is restored, but the device becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated device. The housing structure serves both as the mounting structure for the tracheostoma prosthesis and as the housing for the heat and moisture exchanger. The valve mechanism is integrated within the same housing, merging the speech valve function with the thermal conditioning function, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining all required functions.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a filter is added to remove particles from respiratory air, then the respiratory tract is protected, but the filter clogs rapidly with larger particles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the filtration function into multiple stages or zones within the filter structure. The filter is designed with different regions that handle different particle sizes, allowing larger particles to be captured in specific zones while smaller particles are filtered through other regions. This segmentation prevents rapid clogging by distributing the filtration load across multiple zones, extending the filter's service life while maintaining protection against particle penetration.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the valve element is designed to close automatically with elastic return, then the trachea is protected from saliva, but the patient loses manual control over breathing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic valve design where the valve element can assume different positions based on operating conditions. The elastic memory material allows the valve to automatically close when saliva pressure builds up, protecting the trachea. Simultaneously, the valve can be manually opened by the patient when speech is desired or when intentional breathing control is needed. This dynamic behavior provides both automatic protection and manual control flexibility.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively warms, moisturizes, and filters respiratory air, prevents saliva entry, reduces coughing during speaking, and maintains better breath parameters by retaining larger particles, thus protecting the respiratory tract and preventing rapid clogging.
Implementation Method 1
heat and moisture exchangers extract moisture and heat from the patient's exhaled air and deliver them to the inhaled air simultaneously filtering the respiratory air
Implementation Method 2
a cylindrical spring element is arranged between the housing and the valve element... can be opened by elastic return
Data Source
AI summary
A device for inserting into a tracheostoma prosthesis or a thracheostoma plaster comprises a cylindrical housing and a cylindrical valve element, the housing is provided with a first opening for the connection to the stoma of the patient and with at least one second opening on the opposite side, and the valve element in the second opening of the housing is provided to close the second opening. The valve element is configured so that it can be closed manually by means of a finger and can be opened by elastic return, and the housing surrounds the valve element and the valve element receives a moisture and heat exchanging filter. A cylindrical spring element is arranged between the housing and the valve element.