To solve the problem of making available a speech valve for persons who have undergone a laryngectomy or tracheotomy, which speech valve in particular has a long useful life, a speech valve is proposed having a housing with a proximal opening and at least one filter at least partially received in the housing, and with a piston-like valve element, wherein the filter at least partially surrounds the valve element, wherein the valve element is movable on a valve seat, arranged on the proximal opening, in order to produce a closure position and can be returned with a spring action to an open position of the speech valve, and wherein the valve element has a lower end which faces towards the proximal opening and which is assigned to the valve seat in the open position and, with the valve seat, forms a gap through which an air stream can be guided.

Tubular prostheses are provided for use in airways, upper digestive, and urinary tracts. Each of these uses has its own specific sets of biological specifications, based on what it must contain and exclude and the physical and chemical pressures and stresses to which it is subjected. The prostheses may be made from allogeneic cells. Thus they can be manufactured and stored prior to an individual's personal need arising.

Tubular prostheses are provided for use in airways, upper digestive, and urinary tracts. Each of these uses has its own specific sets of biological specifications, based on what it must contain and exclude and the physical and chemical pressures and stresses to which it is subjected. The prostheses may be made from allogeneic cells. Thus they can be manufactured and stored prior to an individual's personal need arising.

The present invention provides a jig for measuring the shape of the thyroid cartilage capable of readily measuring the shape of the front surface of the thyroid cartilage. The jig for measuring the shape of the thyroid cartilage of the present invention includes: a display section having a plurality of relatively slidable movable members and configured to display a shape of thyroid cartilage by contacting distal end surfaces of the movable members with a front surface of the thyroid cartilage; and a maintenance section configured to align and maintain the movable members in one direction and capable of fixing the slid movable members. Two of such display sections may be provided in the one direction with a space.

The present disclosure relates to electrolarynx devices, systems, and their use. In particular, the present disclosure relates to methods and compositions (e.g., devices) that provide electrolarynx (EL) users with improved speech quality.

The present disclosure relates to electrolarynx devices, systems, and their use. In particular, the present disclosure relates to methods and compositions (e.g., devices) that provide electrolarynx (EL) users with improved speech quality.

A voice prosthesis comprising a outer cannula and an inner cannula wherein the outer cannula is generally in the shape of a spool and comprises two flanges connected by a hollow annular stem therebetween, and the inner cannula comprises a proximal flange and a stem configured to fit within a passageway of the stem of the outer cannula. The outer cannula comprises a retaining slot on its outer proximal edge which can be used to rotationally secure an obround inner cannula proximal flange. The inner cannula may also comprise windows for use with retaining nubs disposed on the interior of the outer cannula passageway and an insertion tool having a moveable protrusions.

Described is a voice generation system. The voice generation system comprises a housing comprising a first opening and a second opening. The housing defines an air passage between the first opening and the second opening. The voice generation system comprises a moveable member located within the housing. The moveable member is configured to vibrate in response to air flowing in the air passage. The voice generation system comprises a transducer module configured to convert vibrations of the moveable member into an electrical signal. The voice generation system comprises a speaker module configured to convert the electrical signal into sound and to output sound into the oral cavity of a user. The voice generation system is configured such that during use, the air pressure at or near the second opening corresponds to an air pressure in the oral cavity of the user.

Described is a voice generation system. The voice generation system comprises a housing comprising a first opening and a second opening. The housing defines an air passage between the first opening and the second opening. The voice generation system comprises a moveable member located within the housing. The moveable member is configured to vibrate in response to air flowing in the air passage. The voice generation system comprises a transducer module configured to convert vibrations of the moveable member into an electrical signal. The voice generation system comprises a speaker module configured to convert the electrical signal into sound and to output sound into the oral cavity of a user. The voice generation system is configured such that during use, the air pressure at or near the second opening corresponds to an air pressure in the oral cavity of the user.

This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods for robotically assisted positioning of an implant in a patient to alter position and shape of a soft tissue. A soft-tissue manipulator system includes an implantable positioning unit (IPU) to engage a soft-tissue implant, and an external control console to dynamically control the IPU to position the implant to interface with the target soft tissue. A user may use the external control console to remotely and transcutaneously control the position and motion of the implant, and to adjust shape and contour of the implant via a micro-actuator array on the implant. The system may be used in a thyroplasty surgery to position and manipulate a thyroplasty implant to modify a vocal cord, such as to medialize or lateralize the vocal cord to restore or improve voice quality.