An electrolarynx includes a case housing tone-producing circuitry, a power switch to turn on the circuitry, a control button (i.e., a pushbutton) to actuate the power switch, and a pressure-sensitive-resistor (PSR) that is physically coupled to the pushbutton. The tone-producing circuitry is configured to respond to variations in PSR resistance that are caused by a user depressing the pushbutton. User-selected modes, that are selectable in one embodiment with a mode switch, include multiple frequency-varying modes (FVMs) in which the frequency of the electrolarynx tone is varied with different sensitivities to variations in PSR resistance, and multiple volume-varying modes (VVMs) for varying the volume of the electrolarynx tone with different sensitivities. A preferred embodiment provides a nonlinear frequency characteristic that facilitates operation at the low end of the pushbutton-controlled (i.e., PSR-controlled) frequency range, accomplishing same by applying suitable shape factors to frequencies of a linear frequency characteristic.

An implant can include a plurality of polymeric fibers associated together into a fibrous body. The fibrous body is capable of being shaped to fit a tracheal defect and capable of being secured in place by suture or by bioadhesive. The fibrous body can have aligned fibers (e.g., circumferentially aligned) or unaligned fibers. The fibrous body can be electrospun. The fibrous body can have a first characteristic in a first gradient distribution across at least a portion of the fibrous body. The fibrous body can include one or more structural reinforcing members, such as ribbon structural reinforcing members, which can be embedded in the plurality of fibers. The fibrous body can include one or more structural reinforcing members bonded to the fibers with liquid polymer as an adhesive, the liquid polymer having a substantially similar composition of the fibers.

An implant can include a plurality of polymeric fibers associated together into a fibrous body. The fibrous body is capable of being shaped to fit a tracheal defect and capable of being secured in place by suture or by bioadhesive. The fibrous body can have aligned fibers (e.g., circumferentially aligned) or unaligned fibers. The fibrous body can be electrospun. The fibrous body can have a first characteristic in a first gradient distribution across at least a portion of the fibrous body. The fibrous body can include one or more structural reinforcing members, such as ribbon structural reinforcing members, which can be embedded in the plurality of fibers. The fibrous body can include one or more structural reinforcing members bonded to the fibers with liquid polymer as an adhesive, the liquid polymer having a substantially similar composition of the fibers.

A speaking valve for use with a tracheostomy and voice prosthesis having a valve element movable by finger pressure between a first position in which the valve allows air to pass through it and a second position in which the passage of air is substantially resisted or prevented. A biasing element such as foam or a spring is provided to bias the valve element towards the first position when no finger pressure is applied. The valve element is arranged such that expiration through the valve at a rate in excess of predetermined rate causes it to move into a third position in which air resistance through the valve is less than when the valve element is in its first position. This allows for air release if e.g. a user should cough.

A speaking valve for use with a tracheostomy and voice prosthesis having a valve element movable by finger pressure between a first position in which the valve allows air to pass through it and a second position in which the passage of air is substantially resisted or prevented. A biasing element such as foam or a spring is provided to bias the valve element towards the first position when no finger pressure is applied. The valve element is arranged such that expiration through the valve at a rate in excess of predetermined rate causes it to move into a third position in which air resistance through the valve is less than when the valve element is in its first position. This allows for air release if e.g. a user should cough.

A shower shield for use with a tracheostoma, having a chamber with a port for connection to a speaking valve or tracheostomy base plate, and a downwardly-facing aperture, and further provided with a resiliently-deformable wall region so that a user's finger pressure on the wall region said region can actuate the speaking valve or occlude a tracheostoma.

A shower shield for use with a tracheostoma, having a chamber with a port for connection to a speaking valve or tracheostomy base plate, and a downwardly-facing aperture, and further provided with a resiliently-deformable wall region so that a user's finger pressure on the wall region said region can actuate the speaking valve or occlude a tracheostoma.

An implant device may include a body of a first material and defining a lumen and at least two arcuate rings of a second material embedded within the body. In one embodiment, the second material does not connect a first ring of the at least two arcuate rings to an adjacent second ring of the at least two arcuate rings.

Provided is a treatment method and medical apparatus for preventing an object that becomes a causative agent causing pathogenesis of aspiration pneumonitis from invading a lung The treatment method includes a disposing step of disposing a first instrument, which allows the object that becomes a causative agent of aspiration pneumonitis to move from an esophagus to a stomach and suppresses movement of the object from the stomach to a larynx, in the esophagus and disposing a second instrument, which suppresses the object from invading the lung, in at least the larynx.

A lateral pharyngeal wall tractor comprises a bone fixer, a traction mechanism and a lateral pharyngeal wall fixer. The lateral pharyngeal wall fixer is fixed on an M. palatopharyngeus or other submucous tissues of a lateral pharyngeal wall. With the bone fixer fixed on a processus alveolaris or a hamulus pterygoideus or a processus pterygoideus as a supporting point, one end of the traction mechanism is connected to the bone fixer, the other end is connected to the lateral pharyngeal wall fixer, and as a result, the submucous tissue of the lateral pharyngeal wall is pulled outward. The elastic traction force produced by the traction mechanism is greater than the collapse force of the lateral pharyngeal wall which is produced by negative pressure during inspiration, but is less than the contraction force which is produced by the muscle of the lateral pharyngeal wall during deglutition.