What is a Blom Singer prosthetic device?
The Blom-Singer® Voice Prosthesis Placement Surgical Kit is designed to be used during surgery for primary or secondary placement of a tracheoesophageal puncture and voice prosthesis. This Blom-Singer® medical device may be used only once with one patient. It may not be reused.
How does a Blom Singer device work?
Blom-Singer® Voice Prosthesis Voice is produced by temporarily blocking the stoma so that exhaled air from the lungs can be directed from the trachea through the prosthesis into the esophagus and then out through the mouth.
How much does a voice prosthesis cost?
However, there is great variability with the life of the prosthesis (less than a month to greater than 12 months). Prosthesis cost ranges from $70 to $350. Due to the down turn in the economy and changes in insurance coverage of the voice prosthesis, many of our patients struggle to pay for the voice prosthesis.
What is a tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis?
Tracheoesophageal prosthesis: A prosthetic device that is placed into a puncture between the trachea and the esophagus that is employed to generate tracheoesophageal speech, prevent aspiration, and maintain the integrity of the puncture.
How does a transesophageal prosthesis TEP work?
The tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis (TEP) uses a one-way valve to let air pushed up from the lungs to pass through from the trachea and enter the esophagus, causing the walls of the esophagus to vibrate as a new voice, but without letting food or liquids to pass through the other way, from the esophagus to the …
Can u talk without voice box?
Total laryngectomy removes your larynx (voice box), and you won’t be able to speak using your vocal cords. After a laryngectomy, your windpipe (trachea) is separated from your throat, so you can no longer send air from your lungs out through your mouth to speak.
How long does a TEP last?
This is about every 6 months, or sooner if they are leaking. A specially trained therapist, doctor or nurse must change them.
What is a provox?
It’s a one-way valve inserted between windpipe (trachea) and the food pipe (esophagus). It is typically changed four times per year by a clinician. Since the introduction of the first Provox voice prosthesis 30 years ago, Atos Medical has become the world leader in laryngectomy care.
Can a TEP be removed?
A complete closure of the TEP can be accomplished through surgical or nonsurgical means. Complete closure eliminates leakage, but it also interrupts TE voice production. The reported rate of complete surgical closure of TEP was 14-50% [5].