# US 6,724,898 B1 · Speech recovery device

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- Number: US 6,724,898 B1
- Document ID: US6724898B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 09/691,231
- Filed: 2000-10-19
- Granted: 2004-04-20
- Earliest claimed: 2000-10-19
- Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
- Inventors: Christen M. Frankle
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6724898B1

## CPC

- A61F 2/20: Larynxes; Tracheae combined with larynxes or for use therewith
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)

## Abstract

There is provided an apparatus and method for assisting speech recovery in people with inability to speak due to aphasia, apraxia or another condition with similar effect. A hollow, rigid, thin-walled tube with semi-circular or semi-elliptical cut out shapes at each open end is positioned such that one end mates with the throat/voice box area of the neck of the assistor and the other end mates with the throat/voice box area of the assisted. The speaking person (assistor) makes sounds that produce standing wave vibrations at the same frequency in the vocal cords of the assisted person. Driving the assisted person's vocal cords with the assisted person being able to hear the correct tone enables the assisted person to speak by simply amplifying the vibration of membranes in their throat.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of assisting a person with aphasia, apraxia or other condition with similar effect to recover their speaking ability, said method comprising:
(a) pressing one end of a thin-walled hollow tube against the outside of the neck in the voice box area of the throat of a speaking person and simultaneously pressing the other end of said thin-walled hollow tube against the outside of the neck in the voice box area of the throat of said person with aphasia, apraxia or other condition with similar effect; and
(b) said speaking person vocalizing sounds while said thin-walled hollow tube is pressed against the outside of the neck in the voice box area of the throat of said speaking person and pressed against the outside neck in the voice box area of the throat of said person with aphasia, apraxia or other condition with similar effect.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method recited in claim 1 further comprising:
(c) said person with aphasia, apraxia or other condition with similar effect attempting to vocalize the same sounds vocalized by said speaking person simultaneously with said person vocalizing said sounds.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method recited in claim 1 wherein said sounds are vowel sounds.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method recited in claim 1 wherein said sounds are consonant sounds.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method recited in claim 1 wherein said tube vibrates in the range from about 100 Hz to about 10 KHz.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method recited in claim 1 wherein steps (a) and (b) are repeated.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The method recited in claim 2 wherein steps (a), (b) and (c) are repeated.