1. A tracheostoma device holder for holding a tracheostoma device superimposed of a tracheostoma of a person, the tracheostoma device holder comprising:
a rigid plate for attachment over a trachestoma via a proximal side thereof, the rigid plate including a through hole;
a tubular trachestoma device fitting, arranged circumferentially with the through hole, the tubular trachestoma device fitting extending distally from a distal side of the rigid plate;
wherein the rigid plate is comprised of a thermoplastic material having a meltingsoftening temperature configured to allow for molding according to the local anatomic shape of the person through close contact between the rigid plate and the skin of the person.
2. The tracheostoma device holder according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic material is a polyester based thermoplastic.
3. The tracheostoma device holder according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic material is a polycaprolactone (PCL) based thermoplastic.
4. The tracheostoma device holder according to claim 1, wherein at least the proximal side of the rigid plate is coated with one or more of acrylate and urethane, or a combination thereof.
5. The tracheostoma device holder according to claim 1, wherein the tubular trachestoma device fitting is a cylindrical sleeve.
6. The tracheostoma device holder according to claim 1, wherein the tubular trachestoma device fitting comprises includes an insidelumen wall having at least one of an annular recess and rib (104) formed therein.
7. The tracheostoma device holder according to claim 1, wherein the tubular trachestoma device fitting at least partly is made of a flexible and resilient material.
8. The tracheostoma device holder according to claim 7, wherein the flexible and resilient material is comprised of one or more of a soft polyethylene, a polyethylene copolymer, a rubber and silicone.
9. The tracheostoma device holder according to claim 1, wherein the rigid plate and the tubular trachestoma device fitting are brought into connection by overmolding.
10. The tracheostoma device holder according to claim 1, wherein at least the proximal side of the rigid plate is provided includes a skin adhesive.
11. The tracheostoma device holder according to claim 10, wherein the skin adhesive is one of a tape, a foam tape, a sprayed skin adhesive, and a painted skin adhesive formulation;
wherein the skin adhesive comprises a double sided adhesive and wherein the proximal side of the rigid plate is skin adhesive.
12. A method for adapting a tracheostoma device holder to neck anatomy of a person, comprising:
heating a plate over the melting temperature of its thermoplastic material, such that the plate becomes compliable and hand moldable;
applying a proximal side of the plate onto the neck of the person, such that a through hole formed in the plate is superimposed over a tracheostoma of the person;
shaping the plate in accordance with the neck anatomy of the person; and
actively or passively cooling the plate below the melting temperature of its thermoplastic material.
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the heating comprises temperatures over 60\xb0 C., and the cooling comprises temperatures below 60\xb0 C.
14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, further comprising;
applying a skin adhesive surface on the proximal side of the plate.
15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the skin adhesive surface is applied on the proximal side of the plate through one of spraying a skin adhesive substance onto the proximal side, paining a skin adhesive substance onto the proximal side, applying a skin adhesive tape onto the proximal side, and foam tape onto the proximal side.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A water-cooled engine of an in-line type comprising:
a plurality of cylinders juxtaposed vertically in a cylinder block and each said cylinder having an axis extending generally horizontally;
a plurality of pistons slidably received in associated ones of the cylinders to define portions of combustion chambers;
a water jacket formed around the combustion chambers and having a cooling water outlet in its upper portion; and
a water passage through which cooling water which has cooled a higher-temperature portion outside the water jacket is supplied to the water jacket,
wherein the water passage is defined by a pipe located outside a side face of the cylinder block and in communication with the water jacket in a position corresponding to a lower half of a lowermost one of the cylinders.
2. A water-cooled engine according to claim 1, further comprising a crankshaft disposed in a substantially vertical direction.
3. A water-cooled engine according to claim 1, further comprising a through hole connecting the water passage with a lower portion of the water jacket.
4. A water-cooled engine comprising:
a cylinder having a combustion chamber;
a cylinder head;
an exhaust manifold;
a combustion chamber water jacket formed around the combustion chamber and having a cooling water outlet in its upper portion;
a cylinder-head water jacket formed around the cylinder head;
an exhaust manifold water jacket formed around the exhaust manifold;
a water passage; and
a cooling water passage;
wherein
the water passage connecting an inlet of the exhaust manifold water jacket and an inlet of the cooling water passage;
an outlet of the exhaust manifold water jacket being connected to a lower portion of the combustion chamber water jacket; and
an outlet of the cooling water passage being connected to the cylinder-head water jacket.
5. A water-cooled engine according to claim 4, comprising a plurality of the cylinders which are juxtaposed vertically, and each having an associated combustion chamber, and the combustion chamber water jacket is formed around all of the combustion chambers and the exhaust manifold water jacket is in communication with the combustion chamber water jacket in a position corresponding to a lower half of a lowermost one of said cylinders.
6. A water-cooled engine according to claim 5, further comprising a crankshaft disposed in a substantially vertical direction.
7. A water-cooled engine according to claim 4, further comprising a gasket isolating the combustion chamber water jacket from the cylinder-head water jacket.
8. A water-cooled engine according to claim 4, wherein said combustion chamber and cylinder-head water jackets include respective thermostats.
9. A water-cooled engine according to claim 8, wherein temperatures of water in each of said water jackets is controlled based on outputs of said thermostats.
10. A water-cooled engine according to claim 4, further comprising a water discharge pipe and each of the said water jackets is connected to the water discharge pipe.
11. A water-cooled engine comprising:
a cylinder having a piston slidably received in the cylinder to define a portion of a combustion chamber;
a cylinder head;
an exhaust manifold;
a cylinder-block water jacket formed around the combustion chamber;
a cylinder-head water jacket formed around the cylinder head;
a cooling water supply passage; and
a water passage defined by a pipe located outside a side face of the cylinder;
wherein
an outlet of the cooling water supply passage is connected to the cylinder-head water jacket; and
the water passage provides cooling water which has cooled a higher-temperature portion of the engine to the cylinder-block water jacket.
12. A water-cooled engine according to claim 11, further comprising a gasket isolating the cylinder-block water jacket from the cylinder-head water jacket.
13. A water-cooled engine according to claim 11, wherein said cylinder-block and cylinder head water jackets include respective thermostats.
14. A water-cooled engine according to claim 13, wherein temperatures of water in each of said water jackets is controlled based on outputs of said thermostats.
15. A water-cooled engine according to claim 11, further comprising a through hole connecting the water supply passage with a lower portion of the cylinder-block water jacket.
16. A water-cooled engine according to claim 11, further comprising a plurality of the cylinders and the cylinder-block water jacket surrounds the plurality of cylinders.