An improved speaking valve
AssigneeKapitex Healthcare Limited
InventorsIan David WORTHINGTON, Alexander James BRIERLEY
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A speaking valve for use with a tracheostomy and voice prosthesis, that, in a first configuration, allows inspiration and expiration through the valve; and in a second configuration resists expiration. Increasing the pressure difference across the valve by increasing the rate of expiration to a predetermined threshold causes the valve to transition into the second configuration; and the second configuration the valve continues to resist expiration until a predetermined negative pressure difference across the valve causes it to transition back into the first configuration.
Claims14
A speaking valve to allow inspiration and controllable expiration through a tracheostoma, wherein, in a first configuration, said speaking valve allows inspiration and expiration through said valve;
- and in a second configuration said speaking valve resists expiration through said valve;
- and
- wherein in said first configuration, increasing the pressure difference across said valve by increasing the rate of expiration to a predetermined threshold expiration rate causes the valve to transition into a second configuration in which said valve resists expiration through said valve;
- and
- wherein in said second configuration said valve continues to resist expiration through said valve until a predetermined negative pressure difference across said valve causes the valve to transition back into said first configuration.
A valve element according to claim 11 comprising a resiliently deformable diaphragm having a hole therethrough, mountable on a shaft having a diameter greater than the diameter of said hole.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.