Doctors say that the modification is being done to meet the medical safety standards across countries.
The wooden device used for inserting voice prosthesis (voice box) in throat and tongue cancer patients is likely to be modified. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) which governs the manufacturing of medical devices has advised to manufacture the device using silicone instead of wood. Considering the safety issues, CDSCO authorities directed to manufacture the device using silicone.
This wooden device was first introduced by Dr. Vishal Rao, the chief of head and neck surgical oncology at HCG Cancer Centre.. He said, “In other countries, according to their safety regulations wood cannot be used in devices used for treating patients.” To make this device and method of inserting the voice box available in other countries, the decision of using silicone inserters was introduced, he said.
Dr. Rao said that the main aim for introducing this device was to help the patients suffering from throat and tongue cancer in speaking. He said, “Before using this wooden device the voice box was inserted through a surgery.” He added that the wooden device reduced the time and complexity involved in inserting the voice prosthesis through a surgery.Around 2000 patients have inserted prosthesis with the aid of this wooden device, he added.
Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology data shows that around 7000 people suffer from tongue and mouth cancer in the state.
Swamy, a throat cancer patient said that before this wooden device was introduced the insertion of prosthesis was done through a surgery. He said, “The surgery was expensive and if there was a need to change the prosthesis, the surgery had to be done again.” He added that this wooden device was very useful and available to everyone at a low cost. “I replace the prosthesis every six months and there is no need for surgery as this insertion is performed in the outpatient ward,” he said.
This wooden device was used to insert the prosthesis for Nalini Satyanarayan, a vocal cord cancer patient as well. She also said that this wooden device was very helpful for her as there was no need for a surgery to insert the voice box. She added that as the cost of the device was less, it will benefit a lot of patients who can’t afford surgery.
Dr. Rao said, “Though we will start manufacturing the device using silicone we will keep the original innovation of using wood alive.” He said that the training for inserting this prosthesis is given using the wooden device. He said, “This will also help in encouraging the business of toy making in Channapatna because the first wooden device model was manufactured there.” This wooden device will help toy makers in improving their business and also help in treating cancer patients, he added
Kouser Pasha, who first manufactured this wooden device, said that he had manufactured around 1000 devices. He said, “Manufacturing this device is affordable and the patients who are using it are also leading a healthy life.” He added that manufacturing more wooden devices will increase their business, however, in the recent years, they have been receiving fewer orders for the same.
Dr. Venkatesh, public health professor at Padmashree School of Public Health said that this wooden device will help a lot of tongue and throat cancer patients who are poor as the device was affordable for everyone. He said that cancer treatments are very costly, and introducing these types of devices that reduce surgery fees are a good idea. He added that this will help throat cancer patients to speak again.
