The artificial throat: A new method for standardization of in vitro experiments with tracheo-oesophageal voice prostheses

After total laryngectomy, the voice can be restored successfully with a sil icone tracheo-oesophageal voice prosthesis. Biofilm formation and subsequen t deterioration of the silicone material of the prosthesis often limit the mean life of the device to an average of 3-5 months. Although device replac ement can be considered an easy outpatient procedure. frequent replacements are inconvenient for the patient and may lead to malfunction of the trache o-oesophageal fistula. Further understanding of the process of development and inhibition of the colonization of these polymer surfaces requires sever al comprehensive clinical studies. How ever, iii vivo research of the bioma terials of the voice prostheses is difficult and time consuming. In order t o simulate the natural process of biofilm development under dynamic nutrien t conditions, an artificial throat was developed. Biofilm developed on Gron ingen(R) button voice prostheses iii vitro a could not be distinguished fro m that formed over several months in,vitro. This method can be used as a st andardized approach for studying functional and structural aspects of all c ommercially available indwelling and non-indwelling voice prostheses, inclu ding the Groningen(R) button, Provox(R), Voice Master(R), Blom-Singer(R) an d others under various laboratory conditions.