Speaking tracheostomy tube

Claim 1

A tracheostomy tube for partial insertion into the trachea of a human for the purpose of providing an airway from outside of the human's body, directly into the trachea, which comprises; a curved cannula having (a) a first open end; (b) a second open end; (c) a cannula body between and joining the first and second open ends; (d) a lumen providing open communication between the first and second open ends; said cannula body (c) having (i) a stoma zone adjacent the first open end; and (ii) a trachea zone adjacent the second open end; said body being adapted by size and configuration to be inserted and positioned in a stoma sited in the neck of the human so that the first end is outside of the human's body, the stoma zone of the body is within said stoma, the trachea zone and the second end of the body are in said trachea; and (e) an aperture in the trachea zone of the cannula body, providing open communication between the cannula lumen and the trachea at a point between the second open end and the stoma zone of the cannula body; (f) means between the second end and the aperture, connected to the trachea zone of the cannula body, for forming a gas seal between the cannula body and the trachea walls when the cannula is positioned in said trachea; and (g) valve means associated with said aperture, for permitting only one-way gaseous flow from said cannula lumen through the aperture during all phases of ventillation, while preventing debris from entering the cannula lumen via the aperture.