Twist to lock Tracheostoma heat and moisture exchanger
Inventors
Glen, Kevin Alan • Stroumpoulis, Dimitrios • SUBRAMANYA, Tejasvi
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11911565-B2
Publication Date
2024-02-27
Expiration Date
Abstract
A twist to lock heat and moisture exchanging device includes a housing having a first opening that is adapted to open to a tracheostoma and a second opening that opens to ambient. A foam filter is disposed in the housing and a closure member is mounted to the housing and adapted to close a passage between the first opening and the second opening. A locking mechanism is engageable to prevent movement of the closure member to close the passage and disengageable to allow movement of the closure member to close the passage. The twist to lock tracheostoma heat and moisture exchanger allows a user to protect from accidental closure during activities when it would be preferred like sleeping and exercising.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a tracheostoma heat and moisture exchanging device that includes a housing with a first opening adapted to open to a tracheostoma and a second opening that opens to ambient. A foam filter is disposed in the housing, and a closure member is mounted to the housing and adapted to close a passage extending through the housing so that airflow and speech mode are controlled by the open versus closed configuration.
The device provides a locking mechanism that prevents accidental movement of the closure member to close the passage and can be disengaged to allow movement of the closure member. The locking mechanism includes a plurality of ledges disposed on a sidewall or inner surface of the housing and a plurality of legs extending from the closure member that align with the ledges in a first rotatable position and disengage from the ledges in a second rotatable position, thereby preventing movement or allowing movement to close the passage.
Detent features are provided to retain the closure member in either of the first position and the second position. The closure member is rotatable relative to the housing, and the foam filter biases the closure member open so that the closure member is retained and controlled between breathing and speech configurations.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims, each defining a tracheostoma heat and moisture exchanging device with a foam filter, a rotatable closure member, a ledge/leg locking mechanism, and detent features retaining the closure member in predetermined positions.
Tracheostoma device with foam filter and rotatable closure member
A tracheostoma heat and moisture exchanging device with a housing having a first opening adapted to open to a tracheostoma and a second opening opening to ambient, a foam filter disposed in the housing, and a closure member mounted to the housing and adapted to close a passage extending through the housing.
Ledge/leg locking to prevent accidental closure with two rotatable positions
A locking mechanism engageable to prevent movement of the closure member to close the passage and disengageable to allow movement of the closure member to close the passage, wherein the locking mechanism includes a plurality of ledges disposed on a sidewall or inner surface of the housing and a plurality of legs extending from the closure member, with engagement in a first rotatable position preventing movement and disengagement in a second rotatable position allowing movement to close the passage.
Detent retention in either rotatable position via leg detent features
A detent feature on each of the plurality of legs of the closure member for engaging a corresponding one of a plurality of detent features on the housing for retaining the closure member in either of the first position and the second position.
Twist to lock via legs aligned with inner-surface ledges
A twist to lock tracheostoma heat and moisture exchanging device including a closure member movable from an open position spaced from the housing to a closed position engaging the housing, wherein a locking mechanism includes a plurality of ledges disposed in the inner surface of the housing and legs engaged with corresponding channels so that in a first position the ledges prevent movement of the closure member to close the passage, and in a second position rotation out of alignment allows movement of the closure member to the closed position.
Across both independent claims, the inventive concept is a tracheostoma heat and moisture exchanging device that uses a foam filter and a rotatable closure member whose movement to close the passage is controlled by a ledge/leg locking mechanism with two rotatable positions, together with detent features that retain the closure member in the defined positions.
Stated Advantages
Prevents movement of the closure member to close the passage, including preventing accidental closure, via the locking mechanism.
Retains the closure member in either the first position or the second position via detent features.
Allows controlled movement of the closure member to close the passage when the locking mechanism is disengaged.
Documented Applications
Heat and moisture exchanging at a tracheostoma, with configurations associated with breathing mode versus speech mode.
Snap-fit engagement of the device to a tracheostoma base using a retention flange.
Holding the foam filter in place using a retaining grid.
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