A new, flexible device that clings to the neck can translate muscular movements into speech, enabling people to talk without using their vocal cords.
The small patch not only detects the movements of the throat associated with speech, but also harnesses that movement to generate electricity, meaning the device can be operated without a battery or being plugged in.
The device, described in a study published Tuesday (March 12) in the journal Nature Communications, could theoretically help people with voice disorders caused by damaged or paralyzed vocal cords communicate, including those recovering from throat cancer surgery.
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