Prosthesis with foldable flange
OwnerEric Blom, Jobeth Sederinventors
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Abstract
Insertion of a flange on a tubular prosthesis such as a voice prosthesis through a body opening such as a tracheoesophageal fistula is facilitated by forming a thinner section on the flange that preferentially folds as the flange passes through the fistula. Retention of the flange in a gel cap is improved by forming a foldable flap extension on a cylindrical flange. A tubular tool for insertion of a tubular voice prosthesis through a fistula is also disclosed.
Claims30
A voice prosthesis for insertion into a fistula opening in a tracheoesophageal wall comprising;
- a tubular elastomeric body connecting a first end to a second end of the body and having a central passage between said ends;
- a foldable flange attached to the body and surrounding said body, said flange containing at least one reduced thickness section to facilitate folding of the flange.
A voice prosthesis for insertion into a fistula opening in a tracheoesophageal wall comprising;
- a tubular elastomeric body connecting a first end to a second end of the body and having a central passage between said ends;
- a foldable flange attached to the body and surrounding said body, said flange containing at least one reduced thickness section to facilitate folding of the flange;
- the flange has an outer edge and an inner edge adjacent said body, the reduced thickness section extends from the outer edge towards the inner edge;
- the reduced thickness sections are polygonal sections and, flange contains at least 2 reduced thickness sections.
A voice prosthesis for insertion into a fistula opening in a tracheoesophageal wall comprising;
- a tubular elastomeric body connecting a first end to a second end of the body and having a central passage between said ends;
- a foldable cylindrical flange attached to the body and surrounding said body, said flange containing at least one reduced thickness section to facilitate folding of the flange;
- and
- the cylindrical flange contains a flap extending from a portion of the outer perimeter edge of the flange;
- and
- the flap having a thickness greater than the reduced thickness sections;
- a prosthesis according claim 18 in which the opening is a fistula in a tracheoesophageal wall and said prosthesis is a voice prosthesis.
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A septal plug prosthesis for insertion into an opening in a nasal septum wall comprising;
- a tubular elastomeric body not having a central passage connecting a first end to a second end of the body;
- a foldable flange attached to the body and surrounding said body, said flange containing at least one reduced thickness section to facilitate folding of the flange.
A method of inserting a flange attached to a hollow tubular, elastomeric voice prosthesis through a fistula in a tracheoesophageal wall, said flange having at least one preferentially foldable section thinner than the remainder of the flange, comprising the steps of;
- folding the flange at said section away from the tubular body;
- restraining the folded flange in a gel cap or other retainer or fixture made of a substance that dissolves in fluids;
- inserting the folded flange through said fistula;
- and
- unfolding the flange so that it contacts said wall.
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A method of inserting a flange attached to a hollow tubular, elastomeric voice prosthesis through a fistula in a tracheoesophageal wall, said flange having at least one preferentially foldable section thinner than the remainder of the flange comprising the steps of:
- folding the flange at said section;
- restraining the folded flange in a hollow tubular insertion device;
- inserting the folded flange through said fistula;
- and
- unfolding the flange so that it contacts said wall.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.