Our devices.
A dynamic design built for enhanced patient comfort, tolerance and acceptance.
Users of the Shikani Speaking Valve™ (SSV) enjoy many advantages* including:
*Supported by multiple clinical publications in the ENT and SLP literature
Significantly lower airflow resistance, resulting in increased comfort and ease of breathing
Superior speech naturalness
Better voice quality
Superior olfaction
Improved swallowing
No honking noise
Discreet, low-profile design (smaller than flapper valves)
The Shikani Heat Moisture Exchanger™ (HME)
The Shikani HME™ is the first true innovation in the field of tracheotomy heat moisture exchangers. The Shikani HME™ functions as an artificial nose and is designed to restore some of the essential respiratory functions which are lost when the breathed air is directed away from the nose.
The Shikani HME™ filters airborne environmental particles from air inhaled by the tracheotomy patient; it retains moisture and heat from air that is exhaled out of the lungs; and upon re-inhalation, it filters, humidifies, and warms air returned to the lungs.
Users of the Shikani HME™ experience better breathing and enjoy many advantages* including:
*Supported by clinical publications in the ENT and SLP literature
More normalized and uniform temperature and humidity levels from inhaled air
Substantially increased particle filtration
Reduced mucus secretion and thickening
Reduced risk of pulmonary infection, a costly procedure to both patients and hospitals
Restored pulmonary conditions and health
Enhanced oxygenation
Discreet, low-profile design
A superior solution with the Shikani Speaking Valve™ (SSV) and Shikani Heat Moisture Exchanger™ (S-HME)
When coupled with the Shikani Speaking Valve™, the Shikani HME™ allows effective speech and simultaneous humidification, warming, and filtration of air. Patients can therefore realize the benefits of both devices by using them together. That said, the Shikani HME™ can also be used independently by placing it directly onto any standard 15mm tracheostomy tube cannula.
Positioning the two devices so that they can work together is fairly simple. If you have a cuffed tracheostomy tube, make sure to deflate the cuff completely. Then, place the Shikani Speaking Valve™ with the notch up in the 12:00 o’clock position (“biased open”). Place the Shikani HME™ on top of the valve.
Including the Shikani Speaking Valve™ Lanyard
The Shikani Speaking Valve™ Lanyard is designed to attach the SSV to the tracheotomy tie in order to prevent loss of the valve in the event that the valve is detached from the tracheotomy tube. Each SSV that is purchased comes with one free SSV Lanyard. Additional SSV Lanyards are available for purchase in packs of six.