Aerodynamic characteristics of the Provox low-resistance indwelling voice prosthesis.

The use of various prostheses for voice rehabilitation after total laryngectomy has become widely accepted in recent years. Two different types of prostheses can be distinguished: non-indwelling devices, which can be removed and replaced by the patient, and indwelling voice prostheses, which have to be removed and replaced by a physician. In this report we describe the in vitro measurement of the airflow dynamics of the recently developed Provox low-resistance, indwelling voice prosthesis. Airflows used in these experiments varied from 0.05 to 0.4 ls-1. With increasing flows, the trans-device air pressure against airflow rates increased from 0.28 kPa to 1.36 kPa, while the mean airflow resistance decreased from 5.6 to 3.4 kPa l-1 s-1. From these data and by comparison with data for other prostheses, the Provox voice prosthesis shows favorable airflow characteristics.