If the vocal cords suffer from only one devastating injury, there’s a great likelihood that these people may lose their speaking ability forever. This disability can create lots of problems in different aspects of their life, ranging from relationships to careers.

Recently, a group of researchers from China announced their latest invention called “artificial throat” that could grant patients who lose their speaking ability an opportunity to hear their voice again. In addition, there’s no need for patients to participate in a surgical operation to be able to use the device.

Sticker Shock

As stated in the paper by these researchers, which was featured in the ACS Nano journal, the making of an artificial throat starts with the laser-scribing of graphene on a thin piece of film made from vinyl alcohol.

After that, a flexible device twice the size of the thumbnail of an adult is attached to the front of the throat of a volunteer through the use of water. This process is similar to the way temporary tattoos are affixed.

Finally, electrodes are used to make a tiny device attached to an armband that was equipped with different electronics, a decoder, and a circuit board.

Complete Speaking Ability

After using this device, the only thing voluntary patients need to perform was to make their throat move as if they were talking but with no noise coming from their throat. The device would turn the movements from their neck into words that can be heard, including “No” and “OK.”

In an official statement issued to newspapers, the researchers mentioned the likelihood of patients being able to make throat signals that could be translated into speech by the device after being appropriately trained.