Diagnosis and laryngectomy

The human voice is a miracle of nature. It the basic kind of human interaction and allows us to exchange ourselves with others and express our emotions. Every human being has a characteristic voice that is both unique and distinctive.

The loss of one's voice due to throat cancer or an accident is therefore a severe diagnosis for those affected and their families and has an impact on many aspects of their lives.

A total laryngectomy, i.e., removal of the larynx, results in a complete loss of voice, loss of the normal airways through mouth and nose, loss of the sense of smell and prevents the build-up of intra-abdominal pressure (abdominal compression when coughing or having a bowel movement). Also, patients often suffer from bronchitis as the inhaled air no longer is heated and filtered by the nose. The degree of disability is 100%.

Overview throat cancer

Who is affected?

Men are affected about 6 times more often, but the number of affected women is steadily increasing
Peak age of illness is between 50 and 70
Age groups 20 to 40 years are increasingly affected
Around 185,000 new cases worldwide annually (source: GLOBOCAN 2020)

Risk factors

Smoking, alcohol and poor oral hygiene
Chronic laryngitis
Inhaled toxic agents (gaseous chemicals, tar, vapors, aromatic hydrocarbons)
Virus infections (Papilloma viruses)

Current state of medicine

Surgery

The larynx must be dissected (laryngectomy) if the cancer is advanced (stages T3 or T4)
The larynx is completely resected just below the hyoid bone
The trachea is sewed into the suprasternal notch
A silver cannula is inserted into the tracheostomy. This silver cannula is available in two different versions, with and without a valve
The upper pharyngeal opening is closed
In addition, lymph nodes are removed from the neck muscles (neck dissection)
Postoperative radiation of the surgical area is usually necessary

Effects of surgical intervention

The patient no longer has a voice
The patient loses the sense of smell and taste
Since inhaled air no longer can be filtered and warmed-up by the nose patients will suffer from frequent bronchitis
Since there is no way of shutting the airways anymore no abdominal pressure can be built up (e.g. when lifting heavy items or opening the bowels). Also coughing is no longer possible.

Vision and prosthesis

Our vision is a superior therapeutic option to put patients back to their original state before surgery.

The current state of rehabilitation is associated with major limitations in everyday life because it uses rudimentary rehabilitation options such as the pressure relief valve, the oesophageal speech or a robot-like voice (scary).

The Proth-O-Type prosthesis

Proth-O-Type has the vision to use the innovative technology of the 21st century to develop a laryngeal prosthesis suitable for everyday use, which, with the help of state-of-the-art neurotechnology, biomechanics and artificial intelligence, enables those affected to talk again with their original voice, use the regular airways, and bring back the ability to perform intra-abdominal pressure. In this way, those affected can maintain their social contacts and their working capacity and live a normal life again.

The Proth-O-Type GmbH team consists of physicians, engineers, linguists and businesspeople. An international patent, renowned cooperation partners and innovative technologies are the pillars of our vision of a future-oriented medicine of the 21st century. To this end, we cooperate with renowned scientists, universities, institutes, research facilities, academies, companies, law firms, practices and patrons.

We strive for medical approval without animal testing.

REGAIN YOUR LIFE

Target groups

Our offer is aiming at the laryngectomized and market participants who are involved in the treatment path such as ENTs, hospitals and health insurance companies.

Industry and market

According to information published by the WHO, around 185,000 new cases of laryngeal cancer are diagnosed each year worldwide (WHO Globocan 2020). Viewed regionally, in particular Asia and Europe affected. In terms of gender, men are particularly affected. With regard to the further development of the incidences, the WHO assumes a significant increase up to the year 2025. The expected increase is around 15% for Asia and around 5% for Europe. An increase of 6% to 18% is also expected for the other regions of the world by 2025.