The present invention relates to tracheostoma valves. Tracheostoma valves are currently used in conjunction with speech prosthesis devices and with speaking or fenestrated tracheostomy tubes as a means of diverting exhaled air which would otherwise pass through the tracheostoma to enable the user to speak. It is envisioned the valves may be used as rehabilitation devices for patients seeking to refine esophageal speech and as part of other surgical prosthetic forms of speech rehabilitation.
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel tracheostoma valve.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel tracheostoma valve of the disc-valve type which is constituted and arranged in a novel and expeditious manner.
Tracheostoma valves having a flexible valve diaphragm have been heretofore known in the art being shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,325,366, issued Apr. 20, 1982 to Carl J. Tabor, and in an application for U.S. Pat., Ser. No. 316,055, filed Oct. 29, 1981, by Eric D. Blom and Mark I. Singer. However, such prior art valve structures possess several inherent disadvantages, such as, for example, experiencing difficulties in remaining open to accommodate a wide range of pressure and flow conditions associated with breathing and physical exercising, and having flexible valving diaphragm members which are extremely difficult to produce in mass production with desired precision. Also, such flexible valve diaphragms include a crease therein when in the open position, which crease does not provide an adequate seal when the diaphragm is then positioned in the closed position. Also, such valve structures readily fatigue in that they change over time and do not retain uniform physical properties during usage, such as, for example, such valve structures become more flexible through usage and thier position at rest varies.
An important object of the present invention is to overcome the difficulties of heretofore known tracheostoma valves in a novel and expeditious manner.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel tracheostoma valve which accommodates normal vegetative breathing during various physical activities, during speaking and during coughing in a novel and expeditious manner.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel tracheostoma valve which has improved sealing characteristics in the closed or speaking position.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel tracheostoma valve the operating characteristics of which may be readily varied to meet the needs of both the same individual and different individuals using the valve and which permits air volumes and/or airflows to enter the valve and the lungs unobstructed when in the open or inhaling position.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novel tracheostoma valve which may be readily disassembled and assembled for purposes of cleaning, repairing, and the like.
A further object of the present invention is to afford a novel tracheostoma valve of the aforementioned type which is practical, efficient and reliable in operation and which may be readily and economically produced commercially.
Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show the preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and what we now consider to be the best mode in which we have contemplated applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.