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.

An implanted tongue septum fascia retraction device includes a fascia fixer, a pull line and a mandible fixer. The fascia fixer is fixed to a tongue septum fascia by means of a fixing clamp, a fixing hook or a fixing ring, and the mandible fixer is fixed to a mandible. One end of the pull line is connected to the fascia fixer, and the other end of the pull line is fixed to the mandible fixer. By adjusting the tightness of a pull line, a tongue septum fascia may be retracted forwards, thus pulling a falling tongue base forwards, opening an obstructed upper airway, and fulfilling the aim of treating snoring and obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSA) caused by glossoptosis.

An implanted tongue septum fascia retraction device includes a fascia fixer, a pull line and a mandible fixer. The fascia fixer is fixed to a tongue septum fascia by means of a fixing clamp, a fixing hook or a fixing ring, and the mandible fixer is fixed to a mandible. One end of the pull line is connected to the fascia fixer, and the other end of the pull line is fixed to the mandible fixer. By adjusting the tightness of a pull line, a tongue septum fascia may be retracted forwards, thus pulling a falling tongue base forwards, opening an obstructed upper airway, and fulfilling the aim of treating snoring and obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSA) caused by glossoptosis.

A speech assistance device includes: an adaptor defining a first end and a second end, a first end of the adaptor configured to cover and seal directly or indirectly against a tracheal stoma defined in a neck of a user, the adaptor comprising a compressible material; a reed module connected to the adaptor, the reed module including a reed configured to produce sound using air expelled by the user from the stoma; and a tube coupled to the reed module, the tube configured to be inserted into a mouth of the user.

A speech assistance device includes: an adaptor defining a first end and a second end, a first end of the adaptor configured to cover and seal directly or indirectly against a tracheal stoma defined in a neck of a user, the adaptor comprising a compressible material; a reed module connected to the adaptor, the reed module including a reed configured to produce sound using air expelled by the user from the stoma; and a tube coupled to the reed module, the tube configured to be inserted into a mouth of the user.

An apparatus (100) includes: a expandable structure (140) formable into three dimensional shapes including a range of diameters (D) and corresponding lengths (L); a movable component (106) moveable between a range of positions (124, 126) effecting the range of diameters; and a mechanical linkage (110) disposed between the movable component and the expandable structure. The expandable structure is configured to fit inside a working channel (204) of an endoscope (202) when the expandable structure is collapsed. The mechanical linkage is configured to move the collapsed expandable structure through the working channel to a selected location (400) past a distal end (404) of the endoscope and to increase and decrease a diameter of the expandable structure in response to changes in the position of the movable component when the expandable structure is at the selected location.

An apparatus (100) includes: a expandable structure (140) formable into three dimensional shapes including a range of diameters (D) and corresponding lengths (L); a movable component (106) moveable between a range of positions (124, 126) effecting the range of diameters; and a mechanical linkage (110) disposed between the movable component and the expandable structure. The expandable structure is configured to fit inside a working channel (204) of an endoscope (202) when the expandable structure is collapsed. The mechanical linkage is configured to move the collapsed expandable structure through the working channel to a selected location (400) past a distal end (404) of the endoscope and to increase and decrease a diameter of the expandable structure in response to changes in the position of the movable component when the expandable structure is at the selected location.

An apparatus includes: a expandable structure formable into three dimensional shapes including a range of diameters and corresponding lengths; a movable component moveable between a range of positions effecting the range of diameters; and a mechanical linkage disposed between the movable component and the expandable structure. The expandable structure is configured to fit inside a working channel of an endoscope when the expandable structure is collapsed. The mechanical linkage is configured to move the collapsed expandable structure through the working channel to a selected location past a distal end of the endoscope and to increase and decrease a diameter of the expandable structure in response to changes in the position of the movable component when the expandable structure is at the selected location.

An apparatus includes: a expandable structure formable into three dimensional shapes including a range of diameters and corresponding lengths; a movable component moveable between a range of positions effecting the range of diameters; and a mechanical linkage disposed between the movable component and the expandable structure. The expandable structure is configured to fit inside a working channel of an endoscope when the expandable structure is collapsed. The mechanical linkage is configured to move the collapsed expandable structure through the working channel to a selected location past a distal end of the endoscope and to increase and decrease a diameter of the expandable structure in response to changes in the position of the movable component when the expandable structure is at the selected location.

The invention relates to a speaking valve, having at least a housing and an actuation means for actuating the speaking valve, the actuation means having a distal pressure surface that has a first partial surface and a second partial surface, the first partial surface having a first average roughness (Ra1), and the second partial surface having a second average roughness (Ra2), the first average roughness and the second average roughness differing by about at least 0.1 μm.