INDWELLING ONE-WAY VALVE PROSTHESIS FOR HANDS-FREE TRACHEOESOPHAGEAL SPEECH

Abstract: There is disclosed a prosthesis (20) for hands-free tracheoesophageal speech in a patient who has undergone a laryngectomy, said prosthesis (20) comprising a one-way valve (21) adapted to be placed in a stoma (15) surgically created in the anterior wall (22) of the trachea (14) of a patient, said stoma (15) extending through the skin of the patient thereby permitting the passage of air inwardly through the one-way valve (21) and into the trachea (14) but not permitting the passage of air from the trachea (14) outwardly through the stoma (15), supporting means (23, 24, 27) attached to and extending laterally from the one-way valve (21), said supporting means (23, 24, 27) adapted to contact the anterior mucosa (22) of the trachea (14) around the circumference of the stoma (15) and thereby to achieve an airtight seal between the one-way valve (21) and tracheal mucosa (22) and to support the one-way valve (21) in place in the stoma (15), said prosthesis (20) thereby permitting hands-free tracheoesophageal speech by preventing exhaled air from passing outwardly through the one-way valve (21) and the stoma (15), and thus forcing said air into the pharynx through the one-way tracheopharyngeal valve means (16) adopted to permit the passage of air from the trachea (14) into the pharynx but to prevent the passage of food or liquid from the pharynx into the trachea (14).

Description: Description Indwelling One-Way Valve Prosthesis For Hands-Free Tracheoesophageal Speech Background of the Invention Surgical removal of all or a portion of the larynx is an all-too-common result of various cancers of the larynx. Since laryngectomy involves the removal of the vocal cords, the loss of normal speech is unavoidable. Following total laryngectomy there presently are three mechanisms for acquiring alaryngeal speech. The first method is a battery powered electro- larynx that is a vibrator applied to the external skin at the cheek, submental or submandibular regions to provide a source of sound that can be subsequently modulated by the normal articulators of the oral cavity. The second mechanism is esophageal speech which involves the swallowing of air and its subsequent regurgitation in order to produce sound. The third mechanism, of which the present invention is an improvement, involves the use of a prosthesis with a one-way valve that is inserted into a tracheoesophageal fistula created in the posterior aspect of the tracheostome that provides a means of directing air currents generated from the lungs into the pharynx and then out through the mouth where speech is produced through the normal articulators. In order to re-direct air through this one-way valve prosthesis, the patient places a finger over the stoma during exhalation in order to achieve an occlusive seal which re-directs air posteriorly. The one-way valve within this prosthesis allows air to flow from the trachea to the pharynx but does not permit food and liquid from going in the reverse direction, from the pharynx to the trachea. The problem with this third technique is that it requires the patient to apply his/her finger over the stoma in order to prevent the escape of air through the stoma so that it may be re-directed instead through the prosthesis. Currently, there is a commercially available external housing device that is applied to the peristomal skin so as to cover the stoma. This device permits the patient to modulate the air pressure that closes a one-way external valve in the device thereby subsequently leading to re-direction of the remainder of the air current from the trachea into the pharynx. This housing device is applied to the entire circum¬ ference of the peristomal skin and requires a tissue adhesive in order to maintain the seal and prevent leakage of air through the prosthesis-to-skin contact. The problem with this device is that the adhesive produces a limited seal, particularly because of the architecture of the peristomal region which often has indentations as a result of prior radical neck dissection on one or both sides. It is a very rare patient who is successful in achieving hand-free speech due to this drawback of the current device, and hence the vast majority of patients are unsuccessful in using this device. Summary of the Invention According to the invention, there is provided a prosthesis which permits hands-free tracheoesophageal speech in patients who have undergone a total or near- total laryngectomy. There is also disclosed a modified surgical procedure for the facilitated use of the prosthesis, as well as the method of using the prosthesis. As will be described in more detail below, the prosthesis is intended to be inserted into the tracheostoma, with a one-way (i.e., inhale only) valve extending through the stoma. In order to achieve a self-retained in-dwelling one-way valve prosthesis that permits hand-free speech, the tracheostoma is re-designed by preserving one or two tracheal rings above the point of exit of the trachea to the overlying skin. This must be done in an oncologically sound fashion so that adequate clearance between those one or two tracheal rings and the bottom of the laryngeal tumor is maintained. By preserving these rings and closing the pharynx over the top of the trachea, a closed end suprastomal tracheal pocket is created. The dimensions of the suprastomal tracheal pocket are preserved due to the underlying tracheal rings that maintain its height. By having this pocket above the stoma one can now provide an in-dwelling self-retained one-way valve prosthesis that can be inserted into the stoma. Typically this prosthesis will have flanges extending perpendicularly to the one¬ way valve so as to retain the prosthesis in place in the pocket. Depending upon the dimensions of the pocket, there may be a shorter cephalad flange and a longer caudal flange. This prosthesis is essentially a section through a tube that can be inserted into the tracheal lumen with the one-way valve extending through the stoma. Brief Description of the Drawings The prosthesis according to the invention is further described below with reference to the following drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic pre-operative cross- sectional sagittal view of the laryngopharynx. Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the area of Figure 1 following conventional total laryngectomy, including a prior art tracheoesophageal prosthesis. Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view as in Figure 2, but also including an additional prior art prosthesis attached to the peristomal skin for provid¬ ing hand-free speech. Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the area of Figure 1 following modified total laryngectomy, including a suprastomal tracheal pocket for accommodating the prosthesis according to the invention. Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of the area of Figure 4, including the prosthesis according to the invention. Figure 6 is a schematic, including a tracheo- pharyngral shunt remaining after near-total laryngectomy, and further including the prosthesis according to the invention. Description of the Preferred Embodiments Looking to Figure 1, the pre-operative laryngo¬ pharynx is comprised of the epiglottis 11, the false vocal cord 12 and the true vocal cord 13. Comparing Figure 1 with Figure 2, in a conven¬ tional laryngectomy, the epiglottis, false vocal cord and true vocal cord are removed and the opening of the trachea 14 to the pharynx is surgically closed, since the epiglottis is no longer present to act as a one-way valve to prevent matter (e.g. food) other than air from passing from the pharynx into the trachea. In order to permit respiration through the trachea, a permanent stoma 15 is placed in the anterior region of the neck. If desired, in order to permit alaryngeal speech, a tracheoesophageal prosthesis 16 may be inserted into a tracheoesophageal fistula created in the posterior wall 16 of the trachea 14. This prosthesis is a one¬ way valve that permits exhaled air to be passed into the pharynx and out through the mouth where speech is produced through the normal articulators. As noted previously, however, this mode of speech requires the patient to place a finger over the stoma 15 in order to create a pressure seal, thereby forcing exhaled air through the prosthesis 16. As noted above, a prior attempt to eliminate the need to place a finger over the stoma involved the use of an external housing. As depicted in Figure 3, such a housing 17 is placed over the skin surrounding the stoma 15 and held in place by a tissue adhesive. This device includes a one-way valve that permits only the passage of inhaled air, while exhaled air is forced through another one-way valve in a tracheoesophageal prosthesis 16 and thence through the mouth. When successfully attached to the skin so as to create an air-tight seal, this housing permits hands-free speech. However, only a minority of patients have remaining, post-laryngectomy, peristomal neck and skin structure that will permit an air-tight seal to be obtained. Moreover, the long-term use of an adhesive may cause irratation or even ulceration. It is the object of the present invention to permit alaryngeal tracheoesophageal speech without the need to place a finger over the stoma, even in patients whose peristomal neck structure will not readily permit the air-tight attachment of an external one-way valve housing. According to the invention, and with reference to Figure 4, a suprastomal tracheal pocket 18 is created during laryngectomy by preserving one or more tracheal rings 19 above the stoma 15. This pocket permits an in-dwelling one-way valve prosthesis to be retained in the trachea by flanges which are supported against the anterior tracheal wall, including the anterior wall of the pocket. With respect to Figure 5, the self-retaining prosthesis 20 comprises a one-way valve 21 adapted to extend through the stoma 15. The prosthesis further comprises supporting means, preferably flanges, for supporting and retaining the prosthesis adjacent the anterior wall 22 of the trachea. This means preferably includes flange means 23, 24 extending, respectively, above and below the valve such that, when in place in the patient, the valve is retained in place in the stoma. The one-way valve 21 is a reverse embodiment of the one-way valve of the tracheoesophageal prosthesis 16, i.e., it permits air to be inhaled into the trachea but blocks the passage of exhaled air through the valve and out through the stoma. Since the one-way valve of the prosthesis 16 does permit the passage of exhaled air out of the trachea, the two valves complement each other during respiration; the valve 21 being open during inhalation, and the valve 15 being open during exhalation and tracheoesophageal speech. When the patient exhales and closes the one-way valve 21, this will generate pressure within the trachea behind the valve that will push the flanges 23, 24 against the anterior tracheal wall and around the circumference of the stoma, thereby to achieve an airtight seal that will then allow air to be directed posteriorly through the in-dwelling tracheoesophageal prosthesis and thus achieve hands-free alaryngeal speech. One aspect of the design of the prosthesis is, therefore, the surgical creation of a new architecture for the laryngostomy. In addition, the retention of the prosthesis is not dependent upon pressure on the tracheal mucosa which would lead to erosion, ulceration and granulation of tissue. Furthermore, the retention of this device is not dependent on the external archi¬ tecture of the peristomal region. It will be self- retained and the bulk of this prosthesis remains intraluminal and therefore less conspicuous than the prior external housing. This device may be used by all total laryngectomy patients in whom the new stomal architecture, with the superstomal tracheal pocket, is created. This would be feasible in the vast majority of patients requiring total laryngectomy with the exclusion of those patients whose tumor extends to a significant extent below the level of the vocal cords thereby requiring a larger segment of trachea to be resected for oncologic clearance of the tumor. Another group of patients for whom the prosthesis according to the invention would be readily applicable are those who have undergone a near-total laryngectomy. As shown in Figure 6, in these patients the prosthesis 20 can be inserted and hand-free speech generated through the tracheopharyngeal shunt 25 created by the normal residual mucosa of the intrinsic larynx and subglottic region. Thus in these patients, there would be no need for the tracheoesophageal prosthesis since the tracheopharyngeal shunt 25 will function as a one¬ way valve permitting exhaled air to pass into the mouth, while blocking food and liquid from entering the trachea. This one-way action occurs by reason of a mobile arytenoid 26 which, through sphincteric action, prevents aspiration into the trachea. The structure of one-way valves according to the invention is known; for example the one-way valve of the prior art external housing prosthesis may be adaptable to an in-dwelling self-retained prosthesis. The supporting means may require several different sizes to accommodate variations in the dimensions of the stoma. Alternatively, a standard size may be adapted to the individual patients by trimming the flange to the appropriate dimensions. It will also be appreciated that the supporting means may be designed with a variety of shapes and sizes, so long as they are self-supporting and self- sealing against at least the anterior wall of the trachea in the region of the stoma. A possible variation from the above-described flanges would be a full or partial ring placed in the trachea, as indicated by the broken lines 27 in Figure 5. Depending upon the shape of the retaining means, the need for and size of the suprastomal tracheal pocket 18 may vary. As noted above, however, such a pocket is a preferred aspect of the invention in the embodiment shown where the supporting means include a cephalad flange extending upwardly from the one-way valve and adapted to press against the anterior mucosa of the pocket.

Claims: Claims l. A prosthesis for hands-free tracheoesophageal speech in a patient who has undergone a laryngectomy, said prosthesis comprising a one-way valve adapted to be placed in a stoma surgically created in the anterior wall of the trachea of a patient, said stoma extending through the skin of the patient thereby permitting the passage of air inwardly through the one-way valve and into the trachea but not permitting the passage of air from the trachea outwardly through the stoma, support- ing means attached to and extending laterally from the one-way valve, said supporting means adapted to contact the anterior mucosa of the trachea around the circumference of the stoma and thereby to achieve an airtight seal between the one-way valve and tracheal mucosa and to support the one- way valve in place in the stoma, said prosthesis thereby permitting hands-free tracheoesophageal speech by preventing exhaled air from passing outwardly through the one-way valve and the stoma, and thus forcing said air into the pharynx through a one-way tracheopharyngeal valve means a^ t>ted to permit the passage of air from the trachea into the pharynx but to prevent the passage of food or liquid from the pharynx into the trachea. 2. A prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the supporting means include an extension adapted to contact the tracheal mucosa above said stoma and within a suprastomal tracheal pocket surgically constructed above said stoma, said pocket being created by the preservation of at least one tracheal ring above the stoma. 3. A prosthesis according to claim 2, wherein the supporting means includes a cephalad flange adapted to extend upwardly from said one-way valve and into the suprastomal tracheal pocket and to contact the anterior mucosa within said pocket, said flange being shaped essentially as a section through a tube that can be inserted into the tracheal lumen with the one-way valve extending through the stoma. 4. A prosthesis according to claim 2, wherein the one-way tracheopharyngeal valve means is a one-way valve prosthesis surgically implanted in the posterior tracheal wall. 5. A prosthesis according to claim 2, wherein the one-way tracheopharyngeal valve means is a tracheopharyngeal shunt surgically created from the normal residual mucosa of the intrinsic larynx and subglottic region as part of a near-total laryngectomy. 6. A prosthesis according to claim 3, wherein the supporting means further includes a caudal flange adapted to extend downwardly from said one-way valve and into the trachea, said caudal flange being shaped essentially as a section through a tube that can be inserted into the tracheal lumen.

Inventors: URKEN MARK, URKEN, MARK
Applicants: SINAI SCHOOL MEDICINE, MOUNT SINAI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE OF THE CITY UNIVERS
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A61F2
IPC codes: A61F2, A61M16