UltraVoice, Ltd.

UltraVoice, Ltd. is an innovative, technology-driven American company that manufactures and sells medical devices. It is the manufacturer of the advanced UltraVoice Speaking Device, which provides the laryngectomees with a new voice by imitating every tone and inflection of the human voice that makes the patient confident with near-normal speaking abilities. UltraVoice eliminates the need for surgery or insertion of rubber tubes into surgically formed punctures and, additionally, negates the risk of accidental aspiration, ensuring that the device cannot fall into the lungs, thus preventing painful emergency room visits. UltraVoice aims to transform the lives of laryngectomees by providing them with a means to communicate verbally in real time.

Overview

Headquarters in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, Ultra Voice, Ltd. was founded by David R. Baraff in April 1990.

Laryngectomy is the removal of the larynx and separation of the airway from the mouth, nose, and esophagus. Post-laryngectomy rehabilitation includes voice restoration, oral feeding, and, more recently, smell and taste rehabilitation. UltraVoice, Ltd. provided the ultimate solution to the laryngectomees by utilizing the latest technology to develop a device that requires no surgery and no frequent replacements and automatically changes pitch to adjust with what and how the user speaks, which the artificial larynx can’t perform.

Traditionally, Laryngectomees have four communicative alternatives. The first is nonverbal communication, which includes writing, gesture/pantomime, or communication boards. These methods are quite time-consuming, tiring, and are only applicable to face-to-face situations. The second alternative is esophageal speech, which is generally unsuccessful because of difficulty with air injection, tracheoesophageal fistulas, and cardiopulmonary disease, resulting in decreased breath support and endurance. The third choice is the electrolarynx, and the fourth is the Tracheoesophageal Puncture (TEP).

UltraVoice Plus, a new speech-generating device, provides a more convenient way for laryngectomees to speak. The device consists of an oral unit worn inside the mouth and a controller that transmits radio waves to the oral unit. The radio waves carry the tone of the human voice, which is reproduced in the mouth by the oral unit. Because the sound is produced within the vocal tract, it is significantly more natural and intelligible than external units.

UltraVoice has also introduced a retainer model that fits in the mouth when the patient has teeth. No dentures are required. It uses a smaller, thinner loudspeaker, and smaller batteries in the oral unit, which makes the retainer model lighter, smaller, and more convenient to use.

The UltraVoice Speaking Device does not use a keyboard and functions in real-time, helping laryngectomees speak immediately. The major components of the UltraVoice speaking device are described below:

Oral Unit

It consists of three essential components that need to be located in the mouth and are specially mounted into an upper denture or an orthodontic retainer or a partial denture.

• Loudspeaker

A natural voice tone, male or female, is created by a built-in speaker that replicates the voice sound that the larynx typically produces. The laryngectomee transforms the voice into speech patterns in the same way he would shape the sounds from his own voice box. The loudspeaker is covered by a flexible membrane that protects the speaker from saliva, food, and liquids.

• Radio Circuit

The control unit sends a signal that is received by the radio circuit that converts the signal into an electrical signal to operate the loudspeaker.

• Rechargeable Batteries

The rechargeable batteries provide the power source for both the radio circuit and last for an average day of talk time.

Control Unit

The control unit contains a high-speed battery-powered computer that samples speech and controls the prosody to add a natural effect to the sound. It also contains a loudspeaker used to amplify the sound of the voice coming from the patient’s mouth. An on/off switch in the unit gives the user complete control of the starting and stopping sounds of his voice.

Charging Unit

A charging unit recharges the oral unit and the control unit. It can charge both units simultaneously overnight, with a full charge requiring eight hours.

Hands-Free Switch

UltraVoice offers a hands-free option for its unit. A jack is provided with the control unit for the switch. The switch has a velcro back, making it easy to attach and remove from its mounting location. The switch is also used by people with paralysis.

Future Projects

Ultra Voice, Ltd. is developing the first intra-oral artificial larynx that will feature artificial intelligence. It will be commercially available in 2024. It will provide a more natural and understandable speech with the help of artificial intelligence. In 2025, the company expects to release an artificial intelligence-based model that will mimic the voice of the patient from before surgery if sufficient pre-surgery recordings are available.