Dow Corning Corporation

Other

Eugene R Jakubczak

Charles A Roth

Julian L Henley-Cohn

George W Holbrook

This invention relates to an implantable, multiple envelope tissue expander and to a method of using the same to produce a flap or section of tissue having a preselected shaped for use in plastic surgical procedures. The device consists essentially of at least two separately inflatable envelopes wherein one is used as a base and is fixed to body members underlying the tissue to be expanded. The other envelope is smaller in volume than the first and is attached to the upper half of the base envelope to expand the tissue overlying the second envelope to a greater extent than is accomplished by the first envelope to thereby produce a section of tissue with a preselected shape.

Multiple envelope tissue expander device

An apparatus to assist esophageal speech in an individual who has undergone a laryngectomy who has a tracheastome and a tracheal-esophageal fistula. The apparatus comprising an elastomeric tube with an open tracheal end and an esophageal end having a one-way slit valve normally closed which allows air to be diverted from the trachea to the esophagus when the tracheastome is sealed and the patient exhales. The elastomeric air tube has an elliptical cross section which contributes to higher rates of air flow and comfortable expiration pressures by reducing the bending movement of the portions of the tube located on either side of the slit or flapper valve. The contacting surfaces of the slit valve are coated with an adhesion-reducing compound to further reduce opening pressure. A retaining flange formed in a plane extending generally perpendicularly from the air tube does not cover the portion of the neck having the tracheastome, thus forming no significant obstruction to breathing. A malleable planer material is embedded in the flange. The flange is formed in a generally V-shape to avoid the cleidomastoid neck muscles thus reducing the tendency of the device to be ejected.

Apparatus to assist esophageal speech

A composition is disclosed which consists essentially of (A) select siloxane fluids, (B) select chlorendates and (C) select metal phosphorodithioates or dithiocarbamates. These compositions are useful as hydraulic fluids in power steering, power brake and other systems requiring the transmission of power from one place to another via a fluid medium.

Growing community of inventors

Bay City, MI, United States of America

Eugene R Jakubczak