VOICE PROSTHESIS AND INSTRUMENT FOR THE APPLICATION THEREOF

摘要

The invention relates to a voice prosthesis to be mounted in a fistula between esophagus and trachea. The voice prosthesis comprises a cylindrical body (10) with a valve member (13) which closes a passage through the body but can be opened. The body has an outside flange (12) projecting radially from one end of the body and having an annular surface to engage the esophagus wall and having such stiffness that the flange in a normal condition prevents the voice prosthesis from being passed through the fistula. A string (14) is provided in the annular surface and extends outside the voice prosthesis so that the string when pulled in the direction from the flange contracts said flange against the extended central axis of the body. The invention also relates to an instrument for insertion of the voice prosthesis into the fistula, which comprises an elongated stem (17) with a cylindrical pin (18) at one end thereof to be inserted into the body (10). An attachment (15) is provided in the stem for locking the string (14) provided on the voice prosthesis with the flange (12) of the body (10) contracted against the extended central axis of the body.