Abstract: A prosthesis for reducing injury to soft tissues of the body, comprising an implantable member adapted to simulate at least one of a size or a shape of a naturally occurring bursa, where the member may be inflatable or otherwise expandable, flexible or rigid, and may be composed of a biocompatible, biodegradable, or non-biodegradable material. The member is adapted to be implanted at a musculoskeletal attachment site or at a site between a muscle and a bone, and is shaped and sized to reduce injury to the site. The prosthesis may also include a plug which seals the prosthesis automatically upon removal of an inflation tube.

Abstract: 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.