Speech prostheses

Speech prostheses, or voice prostheses, is a overall term for small, silicon one-way valves that are inserted into the tracheoesophageal puncture of laryngectomy patients. The prosthesis not only safely divides the oesophagus and trachea, but also allow speech when the outside of the stoma, the opening on the neck to allow air in, is covered with a finger or otherwise occluded. This is greatly beneficial to patients because it allows to communicate without the need to use either an Electrolarynx or Speech synthesizers.

https://www.inhealth.com/category_s/44.htm

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/type/larynx-cancer/living/stoma/starting-out-with-a-breathing-stoma

http://www.webwhispers.org/library/tepprosthesis.asp

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voice_prosthesis

http://medind.nic.in/jat/t07/i4/jatt07i4p188.htm

Main characteristics

Oesophageal valves are made of medical grade silicon rubber and primarily consists of four parts: One-way valve, two flanges on each side of the tube, rigid valve ring in the middle of the tube, and a safety strap that is either removed after the insertion, or left on the device depending on whether it is in-dwelling or patient-changeable. The two flanges are tracheal flange and esophageal flange respectively. They vary in rigidity and size. Both depend on the valve being patient-changeable or not, with the latter being bigger in size and rigid so as to facilitate bigger longevity.