New type artificial larynx using PZT ceramics vibrator as sound source

Speech production substitutes used presently have problems, and perfect speech production substitutes are being developed. We paid attention to PZT ceramics vibrator as a sound source of an artificial larynx. We tried to produce the artificial larynx using a PZT ceramics vibrator, and evaluated its performance. The power spectrum of user's voice produced by the artificial larynx is similar to that of nonhandicapped person's voice. The vocalized sound produced by artificial larynx user shows good characteristics at formant frequency with the role which is important for the vowel discrimination. Based on the result of listening estimation, this voice has good clearness. We hope that the proposed artificial larynx will be widely used in the future.