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Revolutionary Throat Patch Offers Hope for Voice Disorders

Developed by UCLA researchers, the new device translates throat muscle movements into speech without external power.

human speaking and listening power of mastermind together world universe inside your mind, watercolor painting hand drawn
photo shows a shiny black patch made up of small squares stuck to a man's throat; he's wearing a white button down over a blue t shirt
diagram of throat patch

Overview

  • A new adhesive patch developed by researchers at UCLA can help people with voice disorders speak again by translating throat muscle movements into speech.
  • The device, powered by the muscle movements it detects, requires no battery or external power source.
  • In tests, the patch accurately predicted speech with about 95% accuracy, although it currently can only relay certain pre-recorded phrases.
  • The patch is still in the prototype stage and is years away from being available to patients, with further development needed to enhance its capabilities.
  • Existing treatments for voice disorders can be inconvenient or invasive, making this new technology a potentially significant advancement.