# US 8,784,487 B2 · Catheter for inserting a voice prosthesis > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,784,487 B2 - Document ID: US8784487B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/446,657 - Filed: 2012-04-13 - Published: 2013-10-17 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2012-04-13 - Assignees: Helix Medical, Inc. - Applicants: Eric D. Blom; Bradley T. Kracht; Eric Gerard Johnson; Bryan E. Kostelac - Inventors: Eric D. Blom; Bradley T. Kracht; Eric Gerard Johnson; Bryan E. Kostelac - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784487B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/203: {comprising an air passage from trachea to oesophagus or to pharynx; Artificial epiglottis} - A61B 17/24: for use in the oral cavity, larynx, bronchial passages or nose (for medical inspection of cavities or tubes in the body A61B1/00); Tongue scrapers - A61B 17/3468: {for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires (devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069)} - A61B 2090/061: {for measuring dimensions, e.g. length} - A61F 2250/0019: differing in hardness, e.g. Vickers, Shore, Brinell - A61F 2250/0039: differing in diameter - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A catheter, voice prosthesis assembly, and delivery method include an elongated flexible body having a hollow voice prosthesis tubing disposed on a first end of the elongated flexible body. A voice prosthesis is received in the hollow voice prosthesis tubing. The voice prosthesis having an interior esophageal flange at a first end and an exterior tracheal flange at a second end, with the voice prosthesis being received in the hollow voice prosthesis tubing with the interior esophageal flange being folded within the hollow voice prosthesis tubing and the exterior tracheal flange being disposed exterior to the hollow voice prosthesis tubing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A catheter and voice prosthesis assembly, comprising: an elongated flexible body; a hollow voice prosthesis tubing fixedly attached on a first end of said elongated flexible body; and a voice prosthesis having an interior esophageal flange at a first end and an exterior tracheal flange at a second end, said voice prosthesis being received in said hollow voice prosthesis tubing with said interior esophageal flange being folded within the hollow voice prosthesis tubing and said exterior tracheal flange being disposed exterior to said hollow voice prosthesis tubing, wherein a wall of said hollow voice prosthesis tubing includes an opening in a side thereof for receiving said voice prosthesis therethrough. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said elongated flexible body is hollow with an aperture extending from said first end to a second end. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said hollow voice prosthesis tubing includes a lubricant with a coefficient of friction of 0.04≦μk≦1 between the voice prosthesis and the voice prosthesis holder. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The assembly according to claim 3, wherein said lubricant is a silicone based lubricant. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The assembly according to claim 3, wherein said opening in said hollow voice prosthesis tubing is an aperture. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The assembly according to claim 5, wherein said aperture in said hollow voice prosthesis tubing is generally oval. ### Claim 7 A catheter and voice prosthesis assembly, comprising: an elongated flexible body; an a hollow voice prosthesis tubing fixedly attached on a first end of said elongated flexible body; and a voice prosthesis having an interior esophageal flange at a first end and an exterior tracheal flange at a second end, said voice prosthesis being received in said hollow voice prosthesis tubing with said interior esophageal flange within the hollow voice prosthesis tubing and said exterior tracheal flange being disposed exterior to said hollow voice prosthesis tubing, wherein said first end of said elongated flexible body has a first diameter and said second end of said elongated flexible body has a second diameter smaller than said first diameter and including a tapered section disposed between said first and second ends. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The assembly according to claim 7, wherein said elongated flexible body is at least 18 inches long. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said voice prosthesis includes a valve therein. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said voice prosthesis includes a strap extending from said exterior tracheal flange. ### Claim 11 A catheter and voice prosthesis assembly, comprising: an elongated flexible body; a hollow voice prosthesis tubing fixedly attached on a first end of said elongated flexible body; and a voice prosthesis having an interior esophageal flange at a first end and an exterior tracheal flange at a second end, said voice prosthesis being received in said hollow voice prosthesis tubing with said interior esophageal flange within the hollow voice prosthesis tubing and said exterior tracheal flange being disposed exterior to said hollow voice prosthesis tubing, wherein said elongated flexible body includes a plurality of measuring indicia thereon. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The assembly according to claim 11, wherein said measuring indicia includes a plurality of colored rings. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The assembly according to claim 11, wherein said measuring indicia includes a plurality of lines and/or a numbered scale. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The assembly according to claim 7, wherein said elongated flexible body includes a first tube at said first end having a first diameter and a second tube at said second end having a second diameter smaller than said first diameter and including a tapered portion connecting said first tube to said second tube. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The assembly according to claim 14, wherein said first tube, said tapered portion, and said second tube are bonded together. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The assembly according to claim 14, wherein said first tube has a lower hardness than said second tube. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The assembly according to claim 14, wherein said hollow voice prosthesis tubing is bonded to said elongated flexible body. ### Claim 18 A catheter and voice prosthesis assembly, comprising: a hollow elongated flexible body; a hollow voice prosthesis tubing fixedly attached on a first end of said hollow elongated flexible body, said elongated flexible body and said voice prosthesis tubing each being hollow along an entire length thereof; and a voice prosthesis having an interior esophageal flange at a first end and an exterior tracheal flange at a second end, said voice prosthesis being received in said hollow voice prosthesis tubing with said interior esophageal flange within the hollow voice prosthesis tubing and said exterior tracheal flange being disposed exterior to said hollow voice prosthesis tubing.