Development of a wearable electro-larynx for laryngectomees and its evaluation

An electro-larynx is one of speech-substitute devices for patients who have lost laryngeal function. Unfortunately, the voices produced by a conventional electro-larynx are completely flat, unlike a human voice. In order to improve it, we developed a pitch-controlled electro-larynx that allows patients to control a voice intonation using their exhalation. The pitch-controlled electro-larynx has been manufactured in Japan and about 3500 patients have used the device since 1998. However, most patients have strongly requested a further advanced electro-larynx so that they can use it without their hands occupied. We designed a wearable electro-larynx so that it contributes to increase their quality of life. The new electro-larynx can be attached to the patient's neck using a thermo-plastic brace on which a thin-vibrator can be mounted. In this report, we mentioned how to design the wearable electro-larynx and the new electro-larynx was evaluated from a view-point of its sound quality and the usability. Although our wearable electro-larynx has not yet been equipped with the pitch-control function, it was ascertained that it works well while the users are moving their head in the various direction.