A new experimental artificial larynx, which makes use of transistors and miniaturized components to provide a voice for those who have lost the use of their vocal cords by surgical removal or paralysis, is described. The larynx operates by introducing a substitute for the sound of the vocal cords into the pharyngeal cavity by means of a vibrating driver held against the throat. The acoustic principles of normal and artificial speech production that were followed in arriving at the new design are presented, along with descriptions of the transistor circuit and its operating characteristics.

Since the development of the Western Electric reed type artificial larynx (Model 2) about thirty years ago, there has been a number of developments in the general fields of acoustics and electronic circuitry which are applicable to the design of an improved artificial larynx. An experimental model using some of these developments will be described and demonstrated. This new model is inconspicuous in use, and, as indicated by sound spectrographic analyses and articulation tests, has improved speech quality.