Tracheostomy/neck breather, speaking valve, speak easy device

thingiverse

This is a project I worked on as a designer about 2-3 years ago. This is an addition/upgrade to what is known as a Tracheostomy breather or neck breather. We found that the silicon air filter disks used for tracheostomy breathers often got clogged by dust and particles in the air when then needed to be replaced. Plus they were also very vulnerable to physical damage from being hit by something. These are very thin and very fragile sheets of silicon which can be quite expensive. In the worst cases some people needed to replace the filters multiple times a day. So the concept was drawn up and it was revised upon a few times. If I remember this was version 5 or 6. Designed with injection molding in mind. However a good precise 3d printer can manage it. SLS and SLA printers work just as well as injection molding. NOTE for an FDM 3d printer, the center retaining pin inside the connection tube is meant to hold the silicon filter. Make sure that piece is sturdy and that it is very clean. A rough surface could damage the silicon filter. On to the actual file and how it is used: The file is made into 2 parts so that it can be 3d printed and also for injection molding. Part 1 is easy enough to 3d print. For part 2 I suggest lowering the curved side down under the bed to give you a flat surface. Just a mm or two is fine You will notice that part 2 has a curved lip on either side. This is for when the two parts are joined together by welding or glue. The lips help keep in a piece of filtering foam/sponge. The foam/sponge should be dense enough to catch most dust but be easy to breath in and out through. As the foam gets dirty it can be replaced. This is very cost efficient. Tests showed the foam could remain in place for 1 week to 1 month. Mainly for hygienic reasons as you are dealing with human breathing and everything that comes with it. The foam can be washed with disinfectant for re-use. However at the price you buy it, it is not necessary. Note: This does not stop mucus from clogging the silicon filter. However it does move it further away from the opening and thereby does reduce mucus clogging. As mentioned before the silicon filter should be presses down into the attachment piece and up against the spokes at the end of the tube. This is a push fit onto standard sized tracheotomy tube (15mm). For visual description you can look here http://www.ccapg.org/tracheotomy For hospital situations this unit is easy to remove by holding the base and pulling the unit off. Can be used when taking a patient off a breather. Allowing the patient to breath normally and then be put back on the breather in seconds if necessary. This unit also enables the user to speak. This is not new and you can buy speaking valves. This may be cheaper and is certainly better as it filters. That was the whole point of the design. If you are wondering why this design which could be worth a lot of money is here. Simple answer I was screwed out of being paid for my work which I own the sole rights to as I am the designer and I never signed a contract handing over design rights. I personally don't need the money, it is just the principles of not paying someone for weeks of design and months of medical testing and approval. Feel free to print this thing for personal use and for free to people that need it. The cost of the plastic or resin is insignificant. Do not sell this commercially. If you wish to sell it commercially please contact me and we can figure something out. If you make this thing please post a print of it. Hope it helps someone out in your life. If you want to modify this thing please go ahead, but I ask you mark it as a remix. Unfortunately I won't be sharing the original design files for these.