公开(公告)号：US06174278B1

公开(公告)日：2001-01-16

申请号：US09222257

申请日：1998-12-28

申请人： Eric Jaeger ,  Jerod Goldstein ,  Harry S. Robbins

发明人： Eric Jaeger ,  Jerod Goldstein ,  Harry S. Robbins

IPC分类号： A61F558

CPC分类号： A61B5/415 ,  A61B5/0031 ,  A61B7/003 ,  A61B7/04

摘要： The present invention is directed to methods for amplifying vocal (i.e., speech) and other sounds produced by humans and other animals. The present invention provides implantable microphones and sound amplification systems suitable for use in diagnostic and research settings, as well as for use by subject's in need of assistance to vocalize.

摘要翻译： 本发明涉及用于放大人类和其他动物产生的声音（即言语）和其它声音的方法。 本发明提供了适用于诊断和研究设置的可植入麦克风和声音放大系统，以及受试者需要帮助以发音的用途。

公开(公告)号：US06193644B1

公开(公告)日：2001-02-27

申请号：US09262588

申请日：1999-03-04

申请人： John D. Dobak, III ,  Kambiz Ghaerzadeh ,  Xiaoyu Yu

发明人： John D. Dobak, III ,  Kambiz Ghaerzadeh ,  Xiaoyu Yu

IPC分类号： A61F558

CPC分类号： A61B18/02 ,  A61B17/42 ,  A61B18/0206 ,  A61B18/24 ,  A61B2017/00084 ,  A61B2017/0023 ,  A61B2017/00336 ,  A61B2018/00041 ,  A61B2018/00095 ,  A61B2018/00101 ,  A61B2018/00166 ,  A61B2018/0212 ,  A61B2018/0262 ,  A61B2090/306 ,  A61B2090/378 ,  A61B2218/002

摘要： A sheath for use on a closed loop Joule-Thomson cryosurgical probe, and the combination of the and the closed loop probe. The sheath is slipped over the probe, thereby separating the probe from the environment. The sheath has a grip which fits over the handle of the cryosurgical probe, and an extendible shroud which can be longitudinally extended to cover tubing and which are attached to the handle. The sheath has a hollow multi-lumen catheter shaped and sized to fit snugly over the cannula of the cryosurgical probe. The catheter is not thermally conductive, preventing transfer of heat from the ambient to the gas mixture, and preventing the freezing of tissues at undesired locations along the catheter. A thermally conductive cap or tip is attached to the distal end of the hollow catheter. The thermally conductive cap or tip fits snugly over the cold tip on the probe, and it efficiently transfers heat from the target tissue to the cold tip, which in turn transfers heat to the expanded gas mixture. Various forms of auxiliary instrumentation can be mounted on the catheter or conductive tip, such as a temperature sensor, a heater, an ultrasonic transducer, or an optical element of a viewing, illumination, or laser system. Connections between the instrumentation near the distal end of the catheter and the probe are made via a plurality of lumens passing longitudinally through the wall of the catheter.

公开(公告)号：US06754632B1

公开(公告)日：2004-06-22

申请号：US09665192

申请日：2000-09-18

申请人： Joseph Kalinowski ,  Andrew Stuart ,  Michael Rastatter

发明人： Joseph Kalinowski ,  Andrew Stuart ,  Michael Rastatter

IPC分类号： A61F558

CPC分类号： A61F5/58 ,  G10L2021/0575

摘要： Methods and devices generate an exogenous natural second speech signal as an auditory stimulus to a user to enhance the fluency of persons who stutter. The natural speech signal is independent of the contemporaneous speech production of the stutterer and is provided by a voice gesture and can be a prolonged or sustained voice gesture sound such as a simple vowel, or consonant, or vowel trains and the like. The second speech signal can be transmitted in advance of a speaking event or speech production of the stutterer and/or concurrently with a speaking event, either intermittently or continuous during the speaking event. The devices of the instant invention are configured to provide the voice based speech signal such that it is audible to the user and does not require feedback of the user's own speech allowing the user to speak at a substantially normal pace with enhanced fluency. The device and methods can relay the signal based on a manual activation or automatically based on a detection of speech or a stuttering event on the part of the user.

摘要翻译： 方法和装置产生外生自然的第二语音信号作为用户的听觉刺激，以增强口吃者的流畅性。 自然语音信号独立于吐口者的同期语音产生，并且由语音手势提供，并且可以是长时间或持续的语音手势声音，例如简单的元音，辅音或元音列等。 第二语音信号可以在讲话事件或讲话生成之前发送，和/或与讲话事件同时发言，或者在说话事件期间间歇地或连续地发送。 本发明的设备被配置为提供基于语音的语音信号，使得其对于用户是可听见的，并且不需要用户自己的语音的反馈，允许用户以增强的流畅性以基本上正常的速度发言。 设备和方法可以基于手动激活或基于用户的语音或口吃事件的检测自动地中继信号。

公开(公告)号：US06231500B1

公开(公告)日：2001-05-15

申请号：US08434024

申请日：1995-05-02

申请人： Thomas David Kehoe

发明人： Thomas David Kehoe

IPC分类号： A61F558

CPC分类号： A61F5/58 ,  G09B19/04 ,  G10L21/0208 ,  G10L2025/783

摘要： Improvements to a biofeedback device for treating stuttering are disclosed. The device monitors aspects of speech production. When stuttering phenomena are detected, the device provides fluency-enhancing auditory feedback to reduce stuttering. As the user develops speech motor skills (typically taught by a speech pathologist), the device senses reduced stuttering phenomena and reduces auditory feedback. When the user can talk fluently without feedback, he discontinues using the device and continues to talk fluently. The improvements disclosed in this continuation-in-part are a biofeedback feature that monitors the user's vocal pitch; micropower impulse radar to monitor the user's muscle activity; and a fluency-enhancing auditory feedback feature that provides the sound of the user's vocal chords without the sounds added by nasal and oral cavities.

摘要翻译： 公开了用于治疗口吃的生物反馈装置的改进。 该设备监控语音制作的方面。 当检测到口吃现象时，该装置提供流畅性增强的听觉反馈以减少口吃。 随着用户开发语言运动技能（通常由语言病理学家教导），该设备感觉到减少的口吃现象并减少听觉反馈。 当用户无需反馈就能流畅地交谈时，他就停止使用该设备，并继续流畅地说话。 在该部分继续部分中公开的改进是生物反馈功能，其监视用户的声音间距; 微功率脉冲雷达监测用户的肌肉活动; 以及增强听觉反馈功能，提供用户声乐和弦的声音，而无需鼻腔和口腔添加的声音。