This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods for robotically assisted positioning of an implant in a patient to alter position and shape of a soft tissue. A soft-tissue manipulator system includes an implantable positioning unit (IPU) to engage a soft-tissue implant, and an external control console to dynamically control the IPU to position the implant to interface with the target soft tissue. A user may use the external control console to remotely and transcutaneously control the position and motion of the implant, and to adjust shape and contour of the implant via a micro-actuator array on the implant. The system may be used in a thyroplasty surgery to position and manipulate a thyroplasty implant to modify a vocal cord, such as to medialize or lateralize the vocal cord to restore or improve voice quality.

The present invention provides a computer-aided conversion test system and method for generating intelligible speech. The test system includes an acoustic test module with a nasal-genio-oropharyngeal tract, a transmitting module generates a detecting signal, a first receiving module, a second receiving module, and a central processing module with a plurality of first phonetically oral cavity shape spectra. By adjusting the transmitting module, the first receiving module, or the second receiving module, a second phonetically oral cavity shape spectrum is correctly compared and identified by a central computing unit as one of the corresponding first phonetically oral cavity shape spectra. After testing, training and adjusting through the test method, the detecting signal transmitted by the transmitting module is analyzed and identified by the central processing module to increase its interpretation accuracy and shorten the time of machine learning.

The present disclosure relates to electrolarynx devices, systems, and their use. In particular, the present disclosure relates to methods and compositions (e.g., devices) that provide electrolarynx (EL) users with improved speech quality.

An implant system for treating glottic insufficiency includes an implant, which includes a balloon with a port connector or a catheter and a band comprising a proximate end attached to a portion of the balloon that translates away from the port connector or the catheter when the balloon is inflated through the port connector or the catheter.

A speaking valve adapter is disclosed for assisting with speech or language expression during the respiratory recovery of a human. The speaking valve adapter including a speaking valve port, the port being orthogonal to a first interface port, the first interface port adapted to support tracheostomy or endotracheal tubing, a second interface port adapted to support at least one of a suction tubing and a bronchoscopy tubing, and a third interface port adapted to support a connection to a ventilator. The speaking valve adapter may be used by the patient for introduction of at least one of sounds and words while connected to the ventilator. A corresponding respiratory management system which implements the speaking valve adapter and configurable ventilator settings adapted for assisting with more effective speech or language expression during patient recovery or use is also disclosed.

A speech assistance device includes: an adaptor defining a first end and a second end, a first end of the adaptor configured to cover and seal directly or indirectly against a tracheal stoma defined in a neck of a user, the adaptor comprising a compressible material; a reed module connected to the adaptor, the reed module including a reed configured to produce sound using air expelled by the user from the stoma; and a tube coupled to the reed module, the tube configured to be inserted into a mouth of the user.

A vocalization assistance device includes: a mounting body that is mounted in an oral cavity of a person and that has a facing portion facing a palate of the person; a diaphragm that is provided at the facing portion and that is capable of outputting a sound recorded by a device having a recording function, as an original sound; and a passage that is provided at the facing portion and that is configured to transmit the original sound output from the diaphragm to a rear side of the oral cavity.

To solve the problem of making available a speech valve for persons who have undergone a laryngectomy or tracheotomy, which speech valve in particular has a long useful life, a speech valve is proposed having a housing with a proximal opening and at least one filter at least partially received in the housing, and with a piston-like valve element, wherein the filter at least partially surrounds the valve element, wherein the valve element is movable on a valve seat, arranged on the proximal opening, in order to produce a closure position and can be returned with a spring action to an open position of the speech valve, and wherein the valve element has a lower end which faces towards the proximal opening and which is assigned to the valve seat in the open position and, with the valve seat, forms a gap through which an air stream can be guided.

To solve the problem of making available a speech valve for persons who have undergone a laryngectomy or tracheotomy, which speech valve in particular has a long useful life, a speech valve (10) is proposed having a housing (12) with a proximal opening (14) and at least one filter (70) at least partially received in the housing, and with a piston-like valve element (30), wherein the filter at least partially surrounds the valve element, wherein the valve element is movable on a valve seat (32), arranged on the proximal opening, in order to produce a closure position and can be returned with a spring action to an open position of the speech valve, and wherein the valve element has a lower end (38) which faces towards the proximal opening and which is assigned to the valve seat in the open position and, with the valve seat, forms a gap (40) through which an air stream (17a) can be guided.

The invention relates to a speaking valve for laryngectomized and tracheotomized persons that is easy and economical to produce. According to the invention, the speaking valve comprises a proximal first opening and a distal second opening, a filter, which is at least partially surrounded by the housing, which filter is made of an elastic material, and has a proximal first end and a distal second end, wherein the filter partially protrudes beyond an end face of the housing at the distal second opening, and wherein a cover is connected by means of at least one partial region of the bottom surface thereof to a top side of the filter at the distal second end of the filter. A diameter d.sub.1 of the cover is greater than a diameter d.sub.2 of the filter, such that an edge projecting beyond a lateral filter wall of the filter is formed, wherein by application of pressure to the cover from an initial position, a bottom surface of the edge at least partially interacts with the end face of the housing in order to produce a closed position of the speaking valve, and wherein the cover together with the filter returns to the initial position when unloaded.