US4539698A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Replaceable saliva barrier for intra-oral larynx
Assignee: Thomas Jefferson University
•
Filing: 1983-11-01
•
Granted: 1985-09-03
•
Expires: 2003-11-01
Abstract
Abstract An intra-oral artificial larynx is provided including a signal generator and a speaker mounted on a prosthesis for mounting the larynx within the intra-oral cavity. A horn is provided having an input opening coupled to the speaker for acoustically amplifying the output of the speaker, the horn also having an output opening. A saliva barrier is removably mounted to the output opening of the horn for precluding penetration of saliva into the horn, the barrier having a first end which is telescopically received within the output opening of the horn and the second end having a mouth formed on a bias to the longitudinal axis of the mounting and a microporous membrane sealing the mouth. The mouth of the mounting has an elliptical shape which has been found tends to increase speaker volume. Moreover, the telescopic mating of the mounting and the horn provides a saliva barrier which is easily replaceable by the user.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip Katz
- 👤 Henry S. Brenman
- 👤 Louis D. Lowry
- 👤 Harold Schwartz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 02:05
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
An intra-oral artificial larynx comprising: prosthetic means for mounting said larynx within the intra-oral cavity; signal generation means mounted on said prosthetic means for generating a preselected electrical signal; speaker means mounted on said prosthetic means for converting said signal into acoustic energy; a horn having an input opening coupled to said speaker means for acoustically amplifying the output of said speaker means, said horn also having an output opening; a mounting removably mounted to said output opening and having a microporous membrane fixed thereto for precluding the penetration of saliva into said horn; a tongue activatable switch for enabling said signal generation means and said speaker means; and a power source for said signal generation means and said speaker means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
An intra-oral artificial larynx comprising: prosthetic means for mounting said larynx within the intra-oral cavity; signal generation means mounted on said prosthetic means for generating a preselected electrical signal; speaker means mounted on said prosthetic means for converting said signal into acoustic energy; a horn having an input opening coupled to said speaker means for acoustically amplifying the output of said speaker means, said horn also having an output opening; a mounting removably mounted to said output opening and having a microporous membrane fixed thereto for precluding the penetration of saliva into said horn; a tongue activatable switch for enabling said signal generation means and said speaker means; and a power source for said signal generation means and said speaker means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
137 words
A removable saliva barrier for an intra-oral artificial larynx of the type having a prosthetic means for mounting said larynx within the intra-oral cavity; a signal generation means mounted on said prosthetic means for generating a preselected electrical signal; a speaker means mounted on said prosthetic means for converting said signal into acoustic energy; a horn having an input opening coupled to said speaker means for acoustically amplifying the output of said speaker means, said horn also having an output opening; a tongue activatable switch for enabling said signal generation means and said speaker means; and a power source for said signal generation means and said speaker means; said barrier comprising: a microporous membrane; and a mounting, said membrane being fixed thereto, said membrane and said mounting being removably mounted to the output opening of said horn.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
137 words
A removable saliva barrier for an intra-oral artificial larynx of the type having a prosthetic means for mounting said larynx within the intra-oral cavity; a signal generation means mounted on said prosthetic means for generating a preselected electrical signal; a speaker means mounted on said prosthetic means for converting said signal into acoustic energy; a horn having an input opening coupled to said speaker means for acoustically amplifying the output of said speaker means, said horn also having an output opening; a tongue activatable switch for enabling said signal generation means and said speaker means; and a power source for said signal generation means and said speaker means; said barrier comprising: a microporous membrane; and a mounting, said membrane being fixed thereto, said membrane and said mounting being removably mounted to the output opening of said horn.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
147 words
An intra-oral artificial larynx comprising: prosthetic means for mounting said larynx within the intra-oral cavity; signal generation means mounted on said prosthetic means for generating a preselected electrical signal; speaker means mounted on said prosthetic means for converting said signal into acoustic energy; a horn having an input opening coupled to said speaker means for acoustically amplifying the output of said speaker means, said horn also having an output opening; a saliva barrier cartridge for precluding the penetration of saliva into said horn, said cartridge being removably mounted to said output opening, said cartridge including: a mounting having a central opening therein in acoustic communication with the output opening of said horn, and a microporous membrane sealing said central opening; a tongue activatable switch for enabling said signal generation means and said speaker means; and a power source for said signal genration means and said speaker means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
147 words
An intra-oral artificial larynx comprising: prosthetic means for mounting said larynx within the intra-oral cavity; signal generation means mounted on said prosthetic means for generating a preselected electrical signal; speaker means mounted on said prosthetic means for converting said signal into acoustic energy; a horn having an input opening coupled to said speaker means for acoustically amplifying the output of said speaker means, said horn also having an output opening; a saliva barrier cartridge for precluding the penetration of saliva into said horn, said cartridge being removably mounted to said output opening, said cartridge including: a mounting having a central opening therein in acoustic communication with the output opening of said horn, and a microporous membrane sealing said central opening; a tongue activatable switch for enabling said signal generation means and said speaker means; and a power source for said signal genration means and said speaker means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2093453A
Cited
US2862209A
Cited
AT208505B
Cited
US3072745A
Cited
US3084221A
Cited
US3291912A
Cited
US3508000A
Cited
GB1213521A
Cited
US3766318A
Cited
US3914550A
Cited
DE2507704A1
Cited
DE2515006A1
Cited
US4039756A
Cited
DE2818853A1
Cited
GB1592872A
Cited
US4223411A
Cited
EP0058077A2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-09-02 | 1989-03-04 | 1989-09-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-09-02 | 1993-03-04 | 1993-09-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-09-02 | 1997-03-04 | 1997-09-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |