Non-Invasive Device for Voice Restoration After Laryngectomy

Principal Investigator: 

Anais Rameau, Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology

Background & Unmet Need

  • Laryngectomy is a procedure in which part or all of the larynx is removed from a patient, affecting speech
  • The main voice restoration options following a laryngectomy are esophageal speech, the electrolarynx, or tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP)
  • These options have drawbacks as the electrolarynx is often noted to sound robotic, and TEP is associated with complications such as leakage
  • Even with these voice restoration options, patients with laryngectomy experience limited vocal capacity and decreased vocal control
  • Unmet Need: a voice restoration device with better vocal control, intensity, and intelligibility for laryngectomy patients

Technology Overview

  • The Technology: a novel, personalized device for voice restoration using machine learning applied to surface EMG (sEMG) signal
  • The inventors have created a tailored device to conform to a patient's unique anatomy with sensors on the articulatory muscles of the face and neck
  • The device detects the sEMG signals and applies a predictive machine-learning model to translate silent speech into words
  • PoC Data: The inventors collected data using this device from a laryngectomy patient silently articulating ‘Tedd’ and ‘Ed’
  • The team trained a predictive model for automatic speech recognition of these words, which had an 86.4% word recognition accuracy

Technology Applications

  • Voice restoration for laryngectomy patients
  • Silent speech recognition for noisy or difficult environments

Technology Advantages

  • Portable, all-in-one device
  • Inconspicuous profile to be held in place only during speech, like a phone
  • Personalized to patient based on 3D scan of head and neck geometry

Render of the device in position on patient and validation data.

Intellectual Property

Patents

  • US Application Filed: US20220208194A1: "Devices, systems, and methods for personal speech recognition and replacement" (Published June 30, 2022)

Cornell Reference

  • 8520

 

Contact Information

Donna Rounds, Ph.D

For additional information please contact

Donna Rounds
Associate Director, Business Development and Licensing
Phone: (646) 962-7044
Email: djr296@cornell.edu