Duckbill valve for a tracheostomy tube that permits speech

摘要

A tracheostomy valve for use in conjunction with a tracheostomy tube is described. The tracheostomy valve comprises a housing and a one-way valve. The housing has an aperture including a forward and rear opening defined therethrough. The housing also includes a rear portion proximate the rear opening adapted to sealingly connect the rear opening with a tracheostomy robe. The one-way valve is mounted to the homing in operational connection between the forward and rear openings of the aperture. The one-way valve includes a flexable portion, having a surface area greater than the cross-sectional area of the aperture through the housing, which comprises first and second flexible edges. The first and second flexable edges are arranged in a manner such that the first and second flexable edges are biased into sealing contact when the air pressure within the rear opening is greater than the air pressure in the forward opening, and biased out of sealing contact when the pressure within the rear opening is less than the air pressure within the forward opening. The flexable portion is adapted to deformably extend through the forward opening by the pressure created during a cough.