Abstract: A speech prosthesis device which is inserted into a surgically created opening communicating the trachea and esophagus of a laryngectomized patient includes a one-way valve assembly that permits air to be channeled air from the patient's trachea into the patient's esophagus while preventing flow of esophageal material into the trachea. The present invention provides an improvement in such prosthesis devices by providing that the membrane-like, tabbed flap or disc is seated at an angle which is oblique in reference to the longitudinal axis of the tubular housing of the device be, preferably, oval shaped, and that the tabbed flap or disk be superiorily hinged to the tubular housing. The predetermined and uniform resistance to airflow offered by the one-way valve assembly of the present invention is substantially less than the resistance offered by a normal human larynx.

Abstract: Support and adjusting mechanism for the seat and backrest of a work chair having a pedestal with feet and a vertical support column comprises a support part fixed on the upper end of the support column and having laterally spaced, parallel upwardly extending support flanges. A seat support has laterally spaced, parallel downwardly extending flanges which partially overlap and are pivotally connected with the flanges of the support part. A backrest support has laterally spaced, parallel, forwardly extending flanges partially overlapping and pivotally connected with the flanges of the support part and also the flanges of the seat support. A coupling lever has spaced, parallel flanges which partially overlap and are pivotally with the flanges of the support part, the seat support and the backrest support. An air spring acts between a lower region of the support part and a lower region of the backrest support.

Abstract: A work chair (10) has a seat (15) divided into a forward seat part (15.1) and a rear seat part (15.3) of which the forward seat frame part (17.1) and rear seat and back frame part (17.2) are connected with one another by a hinge joint with a hinge axis (18). The frame parts are supported on a pedestal (11) by seat frame supports (20,21). On the column (13) of the pedestal there is provided a column support part (25) which carries the pivot axis (23) and a swivel support part (28). On the pivot axis (23) seat frame supports (21) are mounted. The swivel support part (28) is tiltable by means of an inclination adjusting device with an actuating handle (6) for tilting the plane (E). The swivel support part (28) has forwardly an elongated bearing opening in which the sliding axis (22) is slidable against the force of an adjustable spring. The sliding axis (22) carries the seat frame support (20).

Abstract: Adjusting mechanism for the step-wise height adjustment of the backrest of a work chair comprises two U-form guide bars embracing side edges of a rectangular support arm extending up from the seat of the chair. A C-form slide, on which the backrest is mounted, embraces and is slidable on the guide bars. One of the guide bars has a wider flange in which locking recess are formed. A locking lever pivotally mounted on the slide has a nose portion engageable in the locking recesses to hold the slide and hence the backrest in selected fixed position. The locking lever is spring biased to locking position and is releasable by a handle at the side of the slide so that the locking lever can be released and the slide, with the backrest, moved up or down with one hand.

Abstract: Voice prosthesis devices of known type to be inserted into a surgical fistula communicating between the trachea and esophagus of a laryngectomized patient have included a one-way valve that permits channeling air from the trachea into the esophagus of the wearer while preventing flow of esophageal material into the trachea. Heretofore, the one-way valves in certain of such prosthesis devices were in the form of a flap-type check valve having a membrane-like flap or disc anchored at a segment of the margin to the interior or intraluminal surface of a tubular housing. The present invention provides an improvement in such voice prosthesis devices in the form of a novel way of anchoring the membrane-like flaps or discs to the tubular housings whereby when the prosthesis devices are manufactured in commercial quantities the method of attachment provides a uniform resistance to airflow for each prosthesis formed of corresponding production components.

Abstract: A tracheostoma valve assembly for use with a tracheostomy tube or a speech prosthesis device includes a tubular housing structure containing a spring biased main valve which, during normal vegetative breathing, will remain open, and which, during normal air flow associated with speech, will close. The valve assembly includes a separate external relief valve which is closed during normal vegetative breathing and speaking and which opens to release the increased air pressure within the tubular housing resulting from a substantially increased air pressure within the valve assembly and automatically closes when the air pressure is reduced in the valve assembly.