VALVE MOUNTING ASSEMBLY FOR VOICE PROSTHESIS-CARTRIDGE AND RING

摘要

The valve mounting system of the invention incorporates a hard cartridge (20 ) with a groove (22) on its outer, distal surface and a slot (26) communicatin g distal from the end of the cartridge with the groove (22) and a specially configured elastomeric valve (10) attached to an outer band (12) with a shor t tab (14). The band (12) is positioned with the tab (14) aligned with the slo t (26) and is stretched and is slid proximally over the cartridge (20) until t he tab (14) enters the slot (26) and the band snaps into the seats in the groov e (22). The tab can be disposed at an angle to the seat to preload the valve element (10) against the seat (40).