Provoxweb

Recently a new generation Provox voice prosthesis with a novel insertion system, called Smart Inserter, has been developed. The main advantage of this completely redesinged voice prosthesis is that its airflow characteristics have been optimized through an increase of the internal diameter without altering the external diameter of 22.5 Fr, an angled position of the valve and a valve seat that keeps the valve free of the silicone part of the prosthesis. Moreover, the valve is less prone to come into direct contact with the oesophageal mucosa, because of its internalization and a 360 degree hood at the oesophageal side. This decreased airflow resistance makes voicing for many patients easier, as was observed in the various studies that have been caried out in recent years (see references below). Moreover, the insertion with the Smart Inserter (see images to the right) makes replacement of the device in many instances considerably easier (see under Replacement - Provox vega/Smart Inserter). Besides a 22.5 Fr version, the real successor of Provox2, the Provox Vega prosthesis is also availbale in a 20 Fr and 17 Fr version, also with optimized airflow charachteristics.

References:FJM Hilgers, AH Ackerstaff, M van Rossum, I Jacobi, AJM Balm, IB Tan, MWM van den Brekel. Clinical phase I / feasibility study of the next generation indwelling Provox voice prosthesis (Provox Vega). Acta Otolaryngol. 2010; 130: 511-519FJM Hilgers, AH Ackerstaff, I Jacobi, AJM Balm, IB Tan, MWM van den Brekel. Prospective clinical phase II study of two new indwelling voice prostheses (Provox Vega 22.5 and 20 Fr), and a novel anterograde insertion device (Provox Smart Inserter). Laryngoscope 2010;120:1135-1143Ward EC, Hancock K, Lawson N, van As-Brooks CJ. Perceptual characteristics of tracheoesophageal speech production using the new indwelling Provox Vega voice prosthesis: a randomized controlled crossover trial. Head Neck. 2011;33:13-19Lorenz KJ, Maier H. Voice rehabilitation after laryngectomy. Initial clinical experience with the Provox-Vega® voice prosthesis and the SmartInserter® system. HNO. 2010;58:1174-1183