Smiths Medical International Limited

Peter Ryan Smith

Apparatus for enabling speech while a tracheostomy tube is in place includes a tracheostomy tubewith a vocalisation gas lumenextending along its length and opening at one end externally of the tube above the sealing cuffin the trachea T. A ventilatoris connected to the main boreof the tubeto supply ventilation gas cyclically to the patient. The ventilatoralso has an auxiliary outletconnected to the vocalisation gas lumen. The auxiliary outletsupplies vocalisation gas to the vocalisation gas lumenonly during the expiratory phases of ventilation. Alternatively, the apparatus includes a separate supplyof vocalisation gas connected with the vocalisation gas lumenvia a valve. The valveis controlled by pressure in the main gas supply tubingso that the valve is opened to enable the supply of vocalisation gas only during the expiratory phases of ventilation.

Growing community of inventors

Kent, United Kingdom

Peter Ryan Smith