Patent Publication Number: US-2023158263-A1

Title: Apparatus for humidifying air entering into a tracheostomy valve

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a tracheostomy valve comprising a detachable additive hood and/or insert and/or cap and/or lid and the detachable additive hood and/or insert and/or cap and/or lid itself for humidifying air entering into the tracheostomy valve. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a detachable additive hood for humidifying air entering into a speaking tracheostomy valve and/or a humidifying tracheostomy valve, as defined in claim  1 . 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Different types of solutions for breathing valves including membranes are known within the technical area of tracheostomy valves. Many of these valves also improve the ability to speak. Many tracheostomy valves work as humidifying valves where exhaled air can be utilized for capturing moisture prior to its release to the atmosphere, e.g. by the utilization of some kind of built in or integrated air permeable moisture-heat exchanger, which captured moisture at exhaling is released to the air at inhaling. 
     Examples of such valves are disclosed in WO 2009/018384 A1 and EP 2 501 424 B1 disclosing tracheostomy valves comprising valve bodies having first inner ends, second outer ends, and passageways extending between the ends through the valve bodies to allow air flow from and through the first end to the second end. Outer in this context means facing away from a patient (from a tracheostomy tube) and inner means facing the patient, i.e. the first inner end is attachable to the tracheostomy tube. Transverse flexible membranes are located within the passageways at a distance from the first end of these valves. Caps are adapted to be secured to the outer valve ends and have openings with diameters largely corresponding to the inner diameters of passageways, the openings defining rims. Each cap is provided with a hub and radial spokes extend from the hub to the rim. The hub is provided with a hole designed to mate with a post on a rib located in the passageway transversely to the direction of airflow through the passageway near the outer end. The post is located at the center of the rib on the outer rib side. This post cooperate with a central hole in the membrane to hold the membrane in place. The rib has a slightly raised portion adjoining the post. The rim is provided with a seating ring on the inner side (i.e. the side facing the patient when the cap is mounted) for supporting the periphery of the membrane. When the cap is attached, the central part of the membrane will be clamped between the hub and the raised portion on the rib. The seating ring is offset inwards relative to the inner surface of the hub. 
     In these exemplary valves, when the cap is attached, each flexible membrane is deformed so as to be preloaded into engagement with the seating ring intended to result in an un-interrupted positive seal between membrane and seating ring. 
     Further examples of solutions for breathing valves are given in U.S. Pat. No. 5,666,950 A, which discloses a filter for tracheostomy valves, and WO 2013/152755 A1, which discloses a tracheostomy valve. 
     A problem with the solutions of the prior art is that air inhaled through the valve is too dry and uncomfortable and undesirable, and may dry out delicate mucous membranes. As delicate mucous membranes are dried out, the user of the tracheostomy valve may find it more difficult to speak. This may also cause need of slime suction to a greater extent. 
     Thus, there may be a need for improved humidification of tracheostomy valves. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is an object of the present disclosure to mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more of the above-identified deficiencies and disadvantages in the prior art and solve at least the above-mentioned problem. 
     According to a first aspect there is provided an additive hood for humidifying air entering into a tracheostomy valve, the additive hood being configured to be detachably or fixedly attached at or to or against or around or over or in an inlet of the tracheostomy valve and comprises: a container having a front wall and a rear wall, the rear wall being configured to face the inlet of the tracheostomy valve; the container comprising a material enclosed by the front wall, and the rear wall; and a channel, extending through the front wall, extending pass the material and extending through the rear wall, allowing exterior air to flow through the container to the tracheostomy valve during inhalation, wherein the material is configurable or configured to humidify air flowing through the channel. Hereby, inhaled air through a tracheostomy valve becomes even more humid and/or less dry. 
     According to some embodiments, the container further comprises a sidewall and wherein the material is enclosed by the front wall, the sidewall and the rear wall and/or wherein the container is cylindrical. Hereby, the additive hood may be easier to manufacture. 
     According to some embodiments, the channel is surrounded and/or confined by the material. Hereby, the exchange of humidity from the material to the air of the channel is improved. 
     According to some embodiments, the front wall, the sidewall and/or the rear wall comprises a hard material, such as plastic. 
     According to some embodiments, the material comprises a moisture carrying material, a foamy material, a fibrous material and/or a porous material. Hereby, the exchange of humidity from the material to the air of the channel is facilitated. 
     According to some embodiments, the channel is located at the center of the front wall and/or at the center of the rear wall. Hereby, the additive hood may be easier to manufacture and/or the additive hood may be more efficient. 
     According to some embodiments, the channel is cylindrical. 
     According to some embodiments, the material occupies a part of or all the interior space of the container. Hereby, a maximum amount of material is utilized, thereby facilitating a higher exchange, i.e. release of humidity to the air in the channel. 
     According to some embodiments, the front wall of the additive hood is fenestrated. Hereby, the adding of moisture/humidity to the material and release of moisture/humidity from the material is improved enabling increased humidity of the air in the channel. 
     According to some embodiments, the front wall comprises at least one front hole for humidification of the material. Hereby, the adding of moisture/humidity to the material is improved and/or increased humidity of the air in the channel is provided. 
     According to some embodiments, the front wall comprises at least two front holes, the front holes preferably being located equidistantly from each other and the front holes preferably being located closer to an edge of the front wall than to a center of the front wall. Hereby, the adding of moisture/humidity to the material is enabled. 
     According to some embodiments, at least one front hole allows exterior air to flow through the at least one front hole to the material, and the material allows the exterior air to flow through and/or over the material to the channel. Hereby, the humidity of air flowing through the channel is increased/improved. 
     According to some embodiments, the material is configured to humidify air flowing through the channel by adding a liquid, such as water, to the material. Hereby, the humidity of air flowing through the channel is increased/improved. 
     According to some embodiments, the liquid is added to the material through a front hole. Hereby, the humidity of air flowing through the channel is increased/improved and/or the adding of a liquid is facilitated. 
     According to some embodiments, the additive hood is configured to be attached to the tracheostomy valve, preferably by a snap on mechanism, the snap on mechanism comprising an extension of the sidewall configured to be detachably attached to the tracheostomy valve. Hereby, the additive hood can easily be attached and/or detached from a tracheostomy valve. 
     According to some embodiments, the additive hood is configured to be detached for adding the liquid after being utilized for a certain period of time. Hereby, the long term maintaining of a suitable level of humidity is facilitated. 
     According to some embodiments, the additive hood further comprises a side channel, extending between the front wall and the material and between the rear wall and the material, allowing exterior air to flow through the container to the tracheostomy valve during inhalation. Hereby, the humidification of the air flowing into the tracheostomy valve is improved 
     According to some embodiments, the material of the additive hood has a first end facing the front wall and second end facing the rear wall, which first end is located at a distance from the front wall. This improves the distribution of and “even out” incoming air over a larger area/surface of the material increasing the path of airflow and thereby the release of moisture from the material and the additional absorbing of moisture by the incoming air. 
     According to some embodiments, the additive hood is an external and/or outer detachable cover of the inlet of a tracheostomy valve. This gives easy access to the hood, e.g. when adding liquid to the hood without having to detach it from the valve. 
     According to some embodiments, a tracheostomy valve comprises a detachable additive hood and/or insert and/or cap and/or lid according to any of the disclosed embodiments for humidifying air entering into the tracheostomy valve. This enables further humidification of air and better control of the humidification of the air entering a one-way tracheostomy valve, e.g. a speaking tracheostomy valve, and/or a two-way tracheostomy valve, e.g. a humidifying tracheostomy valve, in a first humidifying step or stage to further lessen the drying out of delicate mucous membranes when inhaling. 
     The present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description given below. The detailed description and specific examples disclose preferred embodiments of the disclosure by way of illustration only. Those skilled in the art understand from guidance in the detailed description that changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the disclosure. 
     Hence, it is to be understood that the herein disclosed disclosure is not limited to the particular component parts of the device described or steps of the methods described since such device and method may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. It should be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claim, the articles “a”, “an”, “the”, and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements unless the context explicitly dictates otherwise. 
     Thus, for example, reference to “a unit” or “the unit” may include several devices, and the like. Furthermore, the words “comprising”, “including”, “containing” and similar wordings does not exclude other elements or steps. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above objects, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of example embodiments of the present disclosure, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG.  1 A  shows a cross sectional side view of an additive hood for humidifying air, detachably attached to a tracheostomy valve, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  1 B  shows a cross sectional side view of an additive hood for humidifying air, detachably attached to a tracheostomy valve, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2 A  shows a front view of an additive hood for humidifying air and being configured to be detachably attached to a tracheostomy valve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2 B  shows a front view of an additive hood for humidifying air and being configured to be detachably attached to a tracheostomy valve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2 C  shows a front view of a material in an additive hood for humidifying air without the lid and/or cap and/or insert and/or top and/or cover and/or hood according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2 D  shows a front view of a material in an additive hood for humidifying air without the lid and/or cap and/or insert and/or top and/or cover and/or hood according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2 E  shows a cross sectional view of the material in an additive hood along line A-A of  FIG.  2 B  and/or along line B-B of  FIG.  2 C  for humidifying air and being configured to be detachably attached to a tracheostomy valve, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2 F  shows a cross sectional view of the material being part of an additive hood along line C-C of  FIG.  2 D  for humidifying air and being configured to be detachably attached to a tracheostomy valve, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  3    shows a rear view of an additive hood for humidifying air and being configured to be detachably attached to a tracheostomy valve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  4 A  shows a three-dimensional cross sectional view of an additive hood for humidifying air, detachably attached to a tracheostomy valve, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  4 B  shows a three-dimensional cross sectional view of an additive hood for humidifying air, detachably attached to a tracheostomy valve, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  5    shows a front view of an additive hood for humidifying air and being configured to be detachably attached to a tracheostomy valve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  6    shows a front view of an additive hood for humidifying air and being configured to be detachably attached to a tracheostomy valve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  7    shows a front view of an additive hood for humidifying air and being configured to be detachably attached to a tracheostomy valve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  8    shows a front view of an additive hood for humidifying air and being configured to be detachably attached to a tracheostomy valve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  9    shows a front view of an additive hood for humidifying air and being configured to be detachably attached to a tracheostomy valve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  10    shows a cross sectional side view of an additive hood for humidifying air and being configured to be detachably attached to a tracheostomy valve, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  11    shows a cross sectional side view of an additive hood for humidifying air and being configured to be detachably attached to a tracheostomy valve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  12    shows a cross sectional side view of an additive hood for humidifying air and being configured to be detachably attached to a tracheostomy valve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  13    shows a retaining ring for an additive hood for humidifying air and being configured to be detachably attached to a tracheostomy valve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  14    shows a top view of a structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure will now be described with reference to accompanying drawings  1 A to  14 , in which preferred example embodiments of the disclosure are shown. The disclosure may, however, be embodied in other forms and should not be construed as limited to the herein disclosed embodiments. The disclosed embodiments are provided to fully convey the scope of the disclosure to the skilled person. 
     The term “humidify” is to be interpreted as increasing the humidity or moisture of the air, i.e. the moisture content thereof. 
     The present disclosure relates to a detachable additive hood and/or lid and/or cap and/or insert and/or top and/or cover for humidifying air entering into a breathing/tracheostomy valve. The detachable additive hood and/or lid and/or cap and/or insert is especially useful for speaking tracheostomy valves, since for this kind of valves there is no exhaled air available, which can be utilized for capturing moisture prior to its release to the atmosphere, e.g. by the utilization of some kind of moisture-heat exchanger. The present disclosure relates to a detachable additive hood and/or lid and/or cap and/or insert and/or top and/or cover of a tracheostomy valve for additional, i.e. extra humidification of air entering into a humidifying tracheostomy valve. The detachable additive hood and/or lid and/or cap and/or insert and/or top and/or cover is also useful for humidifying tracheostomy valves, since for this kind of valves there is exhaled air available, which can be utilized for capturing moisture prior to its release to the atmosphere, e.g. by the utilization of some kind of air-permeable moisture-heat exchanger, but in many cases this inherent or built-in air-permeable moisture-heat exchanger of these humidifying tracheostomy valves is not able to provide the entering air with enough humidity, wherefore this detachable additive hood and/or lid and/or cap and/or insert and/or top and/or cover provides an additional stage or step of further/additional humidification of the air entering humidifying tracheostomy valves before reaching the inherent or built-in air-permeable moisture-heat exchanger. 
       FIGS.  1 A and  1 B  show a cross sectional side view of an additive hood and/or a lid and/or cap and/or insert and/or inset and/or top and/or cover  100  for humidifying air  120 . The additive hood  100  is attached to a tracheostomy valve  190  having a filter  194 . The filter  194  may in some embodiments occupy a large portion, such as more than half, of the space inside the tracheostomy valve  190 . Alternatively, the filter  194  may in some embodiments occupy only a small portion, such as less than 50 percent, less than 25 percent or less than 10 percent, of the space inside the tracheostomy valve  190 . The trachestomy valve  190  may in some embodiments be provided with a membrane (see  FIG.  10   ). The air  120  comes from the exterior of a tracheostomy valve  190  and/or the exterior of the additive hood  100 . The air  120  enters into the tracheostomy valve  190  via the additive hood  100 . The additive hood  100  humidifies the air  120 . Thus, the additive hood  100  is a humidifying cover for the tracheostomy valve  190 . The additive hood  100  comprises a container  102 . The container  102  comprises a front wall  104  and a rear wall  108  and may have any suitable shape. The rear wall  108  is configured to face an inlet  192  of the tracheostomy valve  190 . In some embodiments, the rear wall  108  is shaped and sized to face and/or fit together with the inlet  192 . Furthermore, the container  102  comprises a material  110 . The material  110  is enclosed by the front wall  104  and the rear wall  108 . In some embodiments, there is a further rear wall  109  and the material  110  is enclosed by the front wall  104  and the further rear wall  109 . The material  110  is arranged inside the container  102 . The material  110  is covered or surrounded by the container  102 . 
     Moreover, the container  102  comprises one or more tunnels, canals or channels  112 . The channel(s)  112  extends through the front wall  104 . The front wall  104  may be fenestrated. The front wall  104  may be provided with one or more through-holes  114  to accommodate the channel(s)  112 . Furthermore, the channel(s)  112  extends pass the material  110 . The material  110  is located in proximity to the channel(s)  112 . In some embodiments, there is no material  110  in the channel(s)  112 . In some embodiments, the material  110  occupies a portion of the space surrounding the channel(s)  112 . In some embodiments, the portion comprises or is a portion closest to the front wall  104  of the space in-between the front wall  104  and the rear wall  108 . In some embodiments, the portion comprises or is a portion closest to the rear wall  108  of the space in-between the front wall  104  and the rear wall  108 . In some embodiments, the portion comprises or is a portion at or around the midpoint between the front wall  104  and the rear wall  108 . In some embodiments, the portion comprises a portion of the circumference surrounding the channel(s)  112 . In some embodiments, the material  110  surrounds and confines the channel(s)  112  partly or completely in the space between the front wall  104  and the rear wall  108 . In some embodiments, the material  110  occupies the whole space inside the container  102 . Thus, the material  110  occupies all the interior space of the container  102  (except for the channel(s)  112 ,  1102 ). Moreover, the channel(s)  112  extend(s) through the rear wall  108 . The rear wall  108  may be provided with a through-hole  116  (shown in  FIG.  3   ) to accommodate the channel(s)  112 . In some embodiments, the through-hole  116  is of the same shape and size as the through-hole  114 . 
     The channel(s)  112 ,  1102  allows exterior air  120  to flow through the container  102  to the tracheostomy valve  190  during inhalation. The material  110  is configurable or configured to humidify air  120  flowing through the channel(s)  112 ,  1102 . 
     In some embodiments, the container  102  comprises a sidewall  106  and the material  110  is enclosed by the front wall  104 , the sidewall  106  and the rear wall  108 . In some embodiments, the container  102  is cylindrical. In some embodiments, the container  102  is non-cylindrical, such as round, rounded, spherical or cubical. In some embodiments, the material  110  is in contact with the sidewall  106 , see  FIGS.  1 A and  4 A . In some embodiments, the material  110  is not in contact with the sidewall  106 , see  FIGS.  1 B and  4 B . Is some embodiments, there is one or more side channels  1102  provided between the material  110  and the side wall  106 . In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS.  2 C and  2 D , the side channel  1102  extends around the circumference of the material  110 . In  FIG.  2 E , the side channel  1102  is a through-hole located at a distance from the outer periphery of the material  110 . In  FIG.  2 E , the side channel  1102  is a cavity forming a through-hole between the outer periphery of the material  110  and the side wall  106 . The side channel(s)  1102  is/are configured to let air  120  through. 
     In some embodiments, any one or more of the front wall  104 , the sidewall  106  and the rear wall  108  comprises a hard material, such as plastic, rubber or metal. Thus, the moisture/humidity is kept inside the additive hood  100  and only directed towards and/or delivered to the channel(s)  112 . 
     In some embodiments, the material  110  comprises a liquid and/or moisture carrying material, a foamy material, a fibrous material, a cellulose and/or a porous material. The liquid and/or moisture carrying material may be a foamy material, a fibrous material, a porous material or any combination thereof. 
     In some embodiments, the channel(s)  112  is/are located around or starts at the center  502  (see  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B ) of the front wall  104 . Additionally or alternatively, the channel(s)  112  is/are located around or ends at the center  504  (see  FIGS.  3 ,  2 C and  2 D ) of the rear wall  108 . In some embodiments, the channel(s)  112  is/are cylindrical. Alternatively, the channel(s)  112  is/are spherical, cubical or cuboidal. 
     In some embodiments, the additive hood  100  is configured to be detachably attached to the tracheostomy valve  190 . Such attachment may be by a snap on mechanism. The snap on mechanism comprises an extension  902  of the sidewall  106  of the additive hood  100 . The extension  902  is configured to be detachably attached to the tracheostomy valve  190 . In some embodiments, the extension  902  surrounds the exterior of the tracheostomy valve  190  when attached and is sufficiently tight around the tracheostomy valve  190  so that a force from the extension  902  towards the tracheostomy valve  190  holds the additive hood  100  in place. Alternatively or additionally, the interior surface of the extension  902  is provided with at least one projection  904 , which lock into at least one corresponding groove provided at the exterior of the tracheostomy valve  190 . Alternatively or additionally, the exterior of the tracheostomy valve  190  is provided with at least one projection, which locks into a corresponding groove provided at the interior surface of the extension  902 . 
       FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  show a front view of an additive hood  100  for humidifying air. Thus,  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  show the front wall  104  of the container  102 . The front wall  104  is in  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  round and/or of circular shape. As shown in  FIG.  5   , the front wall  104  may be of any other suitable shape, such as circular, square, rectangular or forming a polygon, such as a monogon, a digon, a triangle, a tetragon, a pentagon, a hexagon, a heptagon, an octagon, a nonagon or a decagon. 
     The front wall  104  has a center  502  and comprises one or more through-holes  114  for accommodating or being an entrance to the channel(s)  112 . In some embodiments, the through-hole  114  is round or circularly shaped. However, as shown in FIGS. 
       5 - 9 , the through-hole  114  may be of any other suitable shape, such as circular, square, rectangular or forming a polygon, such as a monogon, a digon, a triangle, a tetragon, a pentagon, a hexagon, a heptagon, an octagon, a nonagon or a decagon. In some embodiments, the through-hole  114  is located around the center  502 , and preferably located symmetrically around the center  502 . However, the through-hole  114  may be located at other locations, such as close to an edge  704  of the front wall  104 . 
     In some embodiments, the front wall  104  comprises at least one front hole  802 . In some embodiments, the front hole  802  is a through-hole. Each of the front holes  802  depicted in  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  is circular and has a diameter, which is smaller than a diameter of the circular through-hole  114 . In  FIG.  2 B , the small holes visualizing smaller front holes  802  shown in dotted lines are in some embodiments optional, i.e. non-existing, and/or, in some embodiments, instead part of or through holes of the material  110  inside the container  102  and under the front wall  104  of the insert  100  as shown in  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B . The at least one front hole  802  is, in some embodiments, utilized for humidification of the material  110 . Humidification of the material  110  is performed in order for the material  110  to humidify air flowing through the channel  112 . Thus, by further humidifying the material  110 , the material  110  will be configured to humidify air flowing through the channel  112 . Humidifying of the material  110  is, in some embodiments, performed by adding a liquid, such as water or saline water, i.e. water with dissolved salt(s), the salt(s) preferably being sodium chloride, to the material  110 . The liquid is in some embodiments distilled water or distilled water with dissolved salt(s). In some embodiments, the liquid is added to the material through one or more of the front holes  802 . The adding of liquid is, in some embodiments, performed while the additive hood  100  is attached to the tracheostomy valve  190 . Alternatively or additionally, the additive hood  100  is configured to be detached from the tracheostomy valve  190  for adding the liquid. Such detachment is, in some embodiments, performed on a regular basis and/or at detected need, such as when the material  110  contains too little moisture and/or liquid, in order to increase the humidity of the material  110  by adding a liquid. Adding of a liquid is, in some embodiments, performed after the additive hood  100  has been utilized for humidifying air flowing through the channel fora certain time period, such as 1 hour, h, or 2 h, 3 h, 4 h, 6 h, 8 h, 12 h, 24 h, 2 days or 4 days. Adding of a liquid is, in some embodiments, performed after the additive hood  100  has been utilized for humidifying air flowing through the channel for a certain time period and the material  110  has been dried out to a certain degree, such as below a threshold of minimum content of moist and/or liquid. Adding of a liquid, in some embodiments, to the additive hood  100  and the material  110  is done until the material  110  is saturated. The amount of liquid added each time is between 1 and 4 milliliters, ml, and preferably 2 ml. As seen in  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B , the front wall  104  comprises, in some embodiments, at least two front holes  802 . The front holes  802  are, preferably, located equidistantly from each other. Furthermore, the front holes  802  are, preferably, located closer to the edge  704  of the front wall  104  than to the center  502  of the front wall  104 . In some embodiments, the front holes  802  are round or circularly shaped. However, as shown in  FIGS.  5 - 9   , the front holes  802  may be of any other suitable shape, such as circular, square, rectangular or forming a polygon, such as a monogon, a digon, a triangle, a tetragon, a pentagon, a hexagon, a heptagon, an octagon, a nonagon or a decagon. Furthermore, as seen in  FIG.  9   , the front holes  802  may be of different shapes and/or different sizes. 
     The material  110  is shown in front views  2 C and  2 D in a corresponding plane shown in views  2 A,  2 B,  5  to  9 , and  14 , Here, the material  110 , in some embodiments, could be provided with through holes forming channels. These through holes are in some embodiments similar to side channels  1102  and the front holes  802  and through hole(s)  116 . In some embodiments, these through holes may be arranged with corresponding layout(s) and at substantially the same or the same positions and/or be substantially aligned or exactly aligned with the front holes  802 . This enables air  120  to pass/flow through the through channels  112 ,  1102 ,  116  and front holes easier and in a way making it possible to adapt the airflow path and/or surface and/or area of the material  110  being “overflown” by the air  120 , such that the humidifying of the air  120  into the more humid air  122 ,  122 ′ is better controlled by means of the additive hood  100 . In  FIGS.  1 A,  1 B,  4 A and  4 B , the air  120  is in some embodiments humidified in two steps, a first step via the additive hood  100  and its material  110  into more humid air  122 , and then in a second step further humidified via the filter  194  into even more humid air  122 ′ during inhalation. In some embodiments, the filter  194  takes up moisture/humidity when exhaling and releases that moisture/humidity to incoming air  122  when flowing in at inhaling. In some embodiments, the air  120  is optionally humidified in only one or a first step via the additive hood  100  being detachable from the tracheostomy valve  190 . In  FIGS.  1 A,  1 B,  4 A,  4 B,  10 ,  11  and  12   , i.e. in some embodiments, the front wall  104  is located at a distance from the material  110  enabling air  120  to flow over a large area of the material facing the front wall  104 . In  FIGS.  1 B,  4 B,  10  and  11   , i.e. in some embodiments, the air  120  flows via side channels  1102  and the center channel  112  through and/or past/over the material  110 . In  FIGS.  1 B,  4 B,  10  and  11   , i.e. in some embodiments, the air  120  flows over a larger area and/or volume and/or surface of the material  110  via side channels  1102  and the center channel  112  through and/or past/over the material  110  compared to the embodiments of  FIGS.  1 A and  4 A  where most of or all of the air  120  flows through the center channel  112 . 
     In  FIGS.  2 A,  2 B and  3   , i.e. in some embodiments, the additive hood  100  and its container  102  are shown comprising the material  110 . In  FIGS.  5  to  9   , in some embodiments, only the additive hood  100  and its container  102  are seen, i.e. the material  110  is not shown, however, as the additive hood  100  and its container  102  comprises the material  110  for use, also  FIGS.  5  to  9    could in other embodiments reveal the material  110  through the openings of the front wall  104 . In some embodiments, the material  110  is provided with the same or similar hole layout as the front wall  104  of the additive hood  100  or any combination of hole layouts, such as the ones of  FIGS.  6  and  7    provided with more than three or four or five or six through holes  112 ,  1102 ,  116  and/or with any similar or the same shape as any of the front holes  802  of  FIGS.  2 A to  2 D,  3 ,  4 A,  4 B, and  5  to  9    or any combination of layout and/or number and/or shape of through holes, the same goes for the front wall  104  itself, as long as the incoming air  120  is sufficiently humidified. 
       FIG.  3    shows a rear view of an additive hood  100  for additionally humidifying air. Thus,  FIG.  3    shows the rear wall  108  of the container  102 . The rear wall  108  is in  FIG.  3    round and/or of circular shape. The rear wall  108  may be of any other suitable shape, e.g. suitable for fitting together with a tracheostomy valve  190 , such as circular, square, rectangular or forming a polygon, such as a monogon, a digon, a triangle, a tetragon, a pentagon, a hexagon, a heptagon, an octagon, a nonagon or a decagon. Furthermore, the rear wall  108  is, in some embodiments, sized and/or shaped to fit together with the tracheostomy valve  190 , e.g. having same or similar diameter. In some embodiments, the rear wall  108  has a center  504  and comprises a through-hole  116  for accommodating or being an entrance/exit for a channel  112 . In some embodiments, the through-hole  116  is round or circularly shaped. However, the through-hole  116  may be of any other suitable shape, such as the shapes described above for the through-hole  114  and/or shaped as shown in  FIGS.  5 - 9   . The through-hole  116  is located around the center  504 , and preferably located symmetrically around the center  504 . However, the through-hole  116  may be located at other locations, such as close to an edge  706  of the rear wall  108 . In some embodiments, the through-hole  116  is located at a position of the rear wall  108  corresponding partly or fully with a position of an inlet  192  of a tracheostomy valve  190 , e.g. when the additive hood  100  is attached to the tracheostomy valve  190 . 
       FIGS.  4 A and  4 B  show a three-dimensional cross sectional view of an additive hood  100  for humidifying air  120 , attached to a tracheostomy valve  190 . The different parts of the additive hood  100  have been described in connection with  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B . In some embodiments, the channel  112  is defined by the space confined and surrounded by the material  110  in-between the front wall  104  and the rear wall  108 . 
     The channel  112  allows air  120 , exterior to the additive hood  100 , to flow through the container  102  to the tracheostomy valve  190  during inhalation. Air  120  enters the channel  112  through the through-hole  114  of the front wall  104  and passes by the material  110 . While the air  120  passes by the material  110 , the air  120 , having a humidity lower than the humidity of the material  110 , is humidified by the material  110 . 
     In some embodiments, the additive hood  100  humidifies the incoming air  120  in a first step or stage into more humid air  122 . In some embodiments, the moisture/humidity exchange/transfer from the material  110  to the air  120  is through convection. After passing by the material  110 , the humidified air  122  exits the channel  112  through the through-hole  116  of the rear wall  108 . Subsequently, the humidified air  122  enters the tracheostomy valve  190 . In some embodiments, the incoming air  122  is humidified in a further step into even further humidified air  122 ′. In some embodiments, the front wall  104  of the container  102  comprises at least one front hole  802 . In some embodiments, exterior air  120  is allowed to flow not just through the channel  112  but also through the at least one front hole  802  to the material  110 . Once the air  120  has entered into the material  110  and/or the channel(s)  112 , the air  120  is humidified by the material as the material  110  has a higher humidity than the air. In some embodiments, the material  110  allows the exterior air  120  to flow through the material  110  and into the channel  112 . Thereby, the humidity of the air flowing through the channel  112  is further increased before entering the inlet  192  of the tracheostomy valve  190 . 
       FIG.  5    shows a front view of an additive hood  100  for humidifying air. The additive hood  100  comprises a container  102 . The container  102  comprises a front wall  104 . The front wall  104  is square or rectangular and comprises a through-hole  112 . The through-hole  112  is circular. 
       FIG.  6    shows a front view of an additive hood  100  for humidifying air. The additive hood  100  comprises a container  102 . The container  102  comprises a front wall  104 . The front wall  104  is circular and comprises a through-hole  112 . The through-hole  112  is square or rectangular. Furthermore, the front wall  104  comprises four front holes  802 . The front holes  802  are square. 
       FIG.  7    shows a front view of an additive hood  100  for humidifying air. The additive hood  100  comprises a container  102 . The container  102  comprises a front wall  104 . The front wall  104  is circular and comprises a through-hole  112 . The through-hole  112  is circular. Furthermore, the front wall  104  comprises three front holes  802 . The front holes  802  are square. 
       FIG.  8    shows a front view of an additive hood  100  for humidifying air. The additive hood  100  comprises a container  102 . The container  102  comprises a front wall  104 . The front wall  104  is circular and comprises a through-hole  112 . The through-hole  112  is shaped as an octagon. Furthermore, the front wall  104  comprises one front hole  802 . The front hole  802  is circular. 
       FIG.  9    shows a front view of an additive hood  100  for humidifying air. The additive hood  100  comprises a container  102 . The container  102  comprises a front wall  104 . The front wall  104  is circular and comprises a through-hole  112 . The through-hole  112  is shaped as a hexagon. Furthermore, the front wall  104  comprises six front holes  802 . One of the front holes  802  is square. One of the front holes  802  is circular. Four of the front holes  802  are shaped as hexagons. 
       FIG.  10    shows a cross sectional side view of an additive hood  100  for humidifying air. The additive hood  100  is attached to a tracheostomy valve  190 . The tracheostomy valve  190  comprises a membrane  196  and a membrane holder  198 . The membrane  196  is held in place by the membrane holder  198 . As the membrane  196  and the membrane holder  198  blocks part of the interior of the tracheostomy valve  190 , the humidified air  122  coming from the additive hood  100  is forced to go around the membrane  196  and the membrane holder  198  when inhaling as the membrane  196  is bent and opens the air flow path as shown. When exhaling the membrane  196  closes the airflow path by closing the inlet  192  (not shown). 
       FIG.  11    shows a cross sectional side view of an additive hood  100  for humidifying air  120 . The figure shows a side channel  1102  for carrying the inhaled air  120  around the material  110 . The side channel  1102  extends between the front wall  104  and the material  110 , preferably between the sidewall  106  and the material  110 , and between the rear wall  108  and the material  110 , thereby carrying the inhaled air  120  all around the material  110  and exposing the inhaled air to the material  110  all along its path. The side channel  1102  is utilized in addition to the channel  112 . The air in the side channel  1102  enters from the channel  112  or from a front hole  802 . The air in the side channel  1102  exits to the channel  112  or directly into the tracheostomy valve  190 . With the utilization of the side channel  1102 , the humidification of the air  120  flowing into the tracheostomy valve  190  is further improved by the air  120  flowing over and around a larger surface of the material  110 , thereby enabling absorbing more moist. In some embodiments, the additive hood  100  comprises a structure  1400  comprising beams or bars  1402  (shown in  FIG.  14   ), extending, at the inside of the front wall  104 , from an edge  704  of the front wall  104  towards the center  502  of the front wall  104  and/or at the inside of the rear wall  108 , from an edge  706  of the rear wall  108  towards the center  504  of the rear wall  108  and/or at the inside of the sidewall  106 , along the sidewall  106 , thereby creating or defining gaps between the material  110  and the front wall  104  and/or between the material  110  and the rear wall  108  and/or between the material  110  and the sidewall  106 . The side channel  1102  comprises these gaps or the gaps define the side channel  1102 . The side channel(s)  1102  is/are also shown in  FIGS.  1 B,  2 D,  2 E,  2 F and  4 B . In  FIG.  2 E , each side channel  1102  is a through-hole through the material  110 . In  FIG.  2 F , each gap between the material  110  and the sidewall  106  are visualized by dotted areas at each edge forming a void or the side channel(s)  1102 . The outer boundary of the void or side channel(s)  1102  and where the rear wall  108  ends is visualized by the dotted circle in  FIG.  2 D . In some embodiments, e.g. in  FIGS.  2 C and  2 D , the material  110  has a donut shape. In some embodiments, e.g. in  FIGS.  2 C and  2 E , the material  110  comprises one inner part being donut-shaped having the channel  112  and an outer part having an annular shape configured to be located adjacent the sidewall  106 , wherein the side channel  1102  is formed as a through slit extending along the inner circumference of the outer annular part and along the outer circumference of the inner donut-shaped part, i.e. between the outer annular part and the inner donut-shaped part. 
     In  FIGS.  2 E and  2 F , the drier air  120  and additionally humidified air  122  and the direction of airflow are visualized by arrows in broken lines. 
       FIG.  12    shows a cross sectional side view of an additive hood  100  for humidifying air  120 . The additive hood  100  is provided with a retaining ring  1202  for holding components, such as the material  110  (pointed at with an arrow having a white arrow-head), when installed. The retaining ring  1202  is, in some embodiments, configured to fit into one or more grooves of the rear wall  108 . 
       FIG.  13    shows a front view of the retaining ring  1202 . 
       FIG.  14    shows a top view of a structure  1400  and the material  110 . The structure  1400  comprises beams or bars  1402 . The structure  1400  is put in-between the material  110  and the front wall  104  and/or in-between the material  110  and the rear wall  108 . Thus, there will be a gap in-between the material  110  and the front wall  104  and/or in-between the material  110  and the rear wall  108 . A similar structure may be put in-between the material  110  and the sidewall  106 , thereby forming a gap in-between the material  110  and the sidewall  106 . The gaps form part or all of a side channel  1102 . 
     This extra humidifying additive hood  100  is usable for both one-way and two-way tracheostomy valves  190  to add extra or additional humidity to the air  120  entering a tracheostomy valve. In some embodiments, the filter  194  is only a filter and not a combined filter and moisture and/or heat exchanger, such as in one of possible embodiments of  FIG.  10   . In  FIGS.  11  to  14   , only the additive hood  100  and its parts are shown before being attached to a tracheostomy valve  190  or after being removed from a tracheostomy valve or after or before being refilled with liquid/humidity or before being assembled into the additive hood or after being disassembled. 
     The person skilled in the art realizes that the present disclosure is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above. The person skilled in the art further realizes that modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled person in practicing the claimed disclosure, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
         Additive hood  100   
         Container  102   
         Front wall  104   
         Sidewall  106   
         Rear wall  108   
         Material  110   
         Channel  112   
         Through-hole (of front wall)  114   
         Through-hole (of rear wall)  116   
         Air  120   
         Humidified air  122   
         Further/Additionally/Extra humidified air  122 ′ 
         Tracheostomy valve  190   
         Inlet (of the tracheostomy valve)  192   
         Filter (of the tracheostomy valve)  194   
         Membrane (of the tracheostomy valve)  196   
         Membrane holder (of the tracheostomy valve)  198   
         Center  502  (of the front wall  104 ) 
         Center  504  (of the rear wall  108 ) 
         Front hole ( 802 ) 
         Edge  704  (of the front wall  104 ) 
         Edge  706  (of the rear wall  108 ) 
         Extension  902  (of the sidewall  106 ) 
         Projection  904  (of the extension) 
         Side channel  1102   
         Retaining ring  1202