Easy voice prosthesis loading insertion device
Inventors
Glen, Kevin Alan • Stroumpoulis, Dimitrios
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11931249-B2
Publication Date
2024-03-19
Expiration Date
Abstract
A voice prosthesis insertion device includes an elongated body having an aperture therein extending axially along the elongated body. The elongated body includes a ring member at one end that is supported by a pair of straps. The elongated body has at least one region that is increasing in cross section. The elongated body further having a collapsible portion defined by a pair of openings in the elongated body. A rod is disposed in the aperture of the elongated body and including a peg adapted to be inserted into an aperture of a tether of a voice prosthesis device. The collapsible portion of the elongated body is flexible to allow the collapsible portion to be longitudinally collapsed to expose the peg of the rod for easy engagement with the strap of the voice prosthesis and the collapsible portion is extendable from the collapsed position to extend over the peg.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a voice prosthesis insertion device with an elongated inserter body having a first end and a second end and an aperture extending axially along the elongated inserter body. The elongated inserter body includes a ring member at the second end supported by a pair of straps, and the elongated inserter body has a collapsible portion that is flexible to allow longitudinal collapse and subsequent extension.
A rod is disposed in the aperture of the elongated inserter body. The rod includes a first end and a second end, where the second end includes a peg extending therefrom, and the peg is adapted to be inserted into an aperture of a tether of a voice prosthesis device. When the collapsible portion is longitudinally collapsed, the device exposes the peg of the rod for engagement with a strap of the voice prosthesis, and after engagement the elongated inserter body is extendable from the collapsed position to extend over the peg.
In additional configurations, the elongated inserter body includes at least one region between the first end and the second end in which the outer diameter increases toward the second end, and the collapsible portion is defined by a pair of openings in the elongated inserter body. The rod can include a flattened region with a peg extending from the flattened region, and the elongated inserter body includes an aperture at the first end for receiving a stringer and stringer attachment features on the rod.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent device claims and one independent method claim. Across the independent claims, the main inventive features are focused on an elongated inserter body with an axial aperture, a ring member supported by straps, a flexible longitudinally collapsible portion for exposing and covering a peg, and engagement with a tether aperture of a voice prosthesis via a strap.
Elongated inserter body with axial aperture, ring member, straps, and collapsible portion
A voice prosthesis insertion device includes an elongated inserter body having a first end and a second end and including an aperture extending axially along the elongated inserter body, where the elongated inserter body includes a ring member at the second end supported by a pair of straps, and the elongated inserter body has a collapsible portion.
Rod with peg adapted for tether aperture insertion and strap engagement
A voice prosthesis insertion device includes a rod disposed in the aperture of the elongated inserter body, where the rod includes a first end and a second end with a peg extending from the second end, and the peg is adapted to be inserted into an aperture of a tether of a voice prosthesis device, wherein the collapsible portion is flexible to allow longitudinally collapsing to expose the peg of the rod for engagement with a strap of the voice prosthesis and the elongated inserter body is extendable from the collapsed position to extend over the peg.
Increasing outer diameter region and collapsible portion defined by pair of openings
A voice prosthesis insertion device includes an elongated inserter body having an aperture extending axially and a ring member at the second end supported by a pair of straps, where the elongated inserter body has at least one region between the first end and the second end with an outer diameter that increases as the region extends toward the second end, and the elongated inserter body has a collapsible portion defined by a pair of openings in the elongated inserter body.
Flattened region with peg and longitudinal collapse/extension over peg
A voice prosthesis insertion device includes a rod disposed in the aperture with a first end and a second end, where the second end includes a flattened region with a peg extending from the flattened region adapted to be inserted into an aperture of a tether of a voice prosthesis, and wherein the collapsible portion is flexible to allow the collapsible portion to be longitudinally collapsed to expose the peg for engagement with a strap of the voice prosthesis and the collapsible portion is extendable from the collapsed portion to extend over the peg.
Method loading by collapsing to retract from peg, tether insertion, and tubular body insertion through ring
A method of loading a voice prosthesis into a voice prosthesis insertion device includes forming a voice prosthesis insertion device including an elongated inserter body having a first end with a ring and a second end and an aperture extending axially, where the elongated inserter body has a collapsible portion and a peg disposed in the aperture and covered by the elongated inserter body; collapsing the collapsible portion to cause a portion of the elongated inserter body to be retracted from the peg; inserting the peg into an aperture in a tether of a voice prosthesis and extending the collapsible portion to cause the portion of the elongated inserter body to cover the peg; and inserting a tubular body of the voice prosthesis through the ring.
Overall, the independent claims cover a voice prosthesis insertion device in which an elongated inserter body with an axial aperture and strap-supported ring includes a flexible longitudinally collapsible portion. A rod with a peg is positioned in the axial aperture such that collapsing exposes the peg for insertion into a tether aperture and engagement with a strap, and extending covers the peg. Additional claim coverage includes an increasing outer diameter region and collapsible portion geometry defined by openings, and a method that includes inserting the tubular body through the ring.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
The disclosed example use describes using a stringer to pull a loaded inserter through a tracheoesophageal puncture and deploy the voice prosthesis via the ring around the tubular body and flanges.
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