Importance

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Abstract

A fenestrated tracheostomy tube valve assembly removably insertable in a tracheostomy stoma and having an enlarged flange abuttable against the skin of the throat, a smaller diameter flange in the trachea and abuttable against the tissue surrounding the opening of the stoma to the trachea, a tube part extendable through the stoma and joined to said flanges, and an inflatable annular diaphragm joined to said flanges that extends through the tube part and in conjunction with the inner peripheral wall of the tube part forms an inflatable chamber. A squeeze ball is fluidly connected by a flexible fluid conduit to open through the enlarged flange to the inflatable chamber, and when the squeeze ball is squeezed, inflate the chamber to block fluid flow axially through the tube assembly and when the squeeze pressure is released, the chamber is deflated to permit fluid flow through said assembly to and from the trachea. Blocking fluid flow through the tube assembly facilitates speech.

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First Claim