Design and implementation of cost-effective electrolarynx for voice restoration

Abstract

Laryngectomy is a surgical procedure for the removal of the larynx, which causes a person to lose their natural voice, and the surgery is necessary for patients with advanced laryngeal cancer. It can have a profound impact on a person’s ability to communicate, often leading to emotional and social isolation. The electrolarynx, a device that restores vocal function by generating mechanical vibrations, offers a solution. But, it remains unaffordable for many patients in lowand middle-income countries due to its high cost, typically ranging from Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 300,000. In response to this issue, the goal of this project was to design and develop a low-cost, ergonomic electrolarynx that delivers effective speech restoration while remaining accessible to users in low-income backgrounds. This approach began with a thorough literature review and market analysis based on biomedical technology principles, followed by a four-phase project development structure: conceptualisation and feasibility, planning, engineering to production, and final implementation. The design prioritised affordability, ease of use, durability, and user comfort. The final prototype incorporated a microcontroller, a solenoid actuator for vibration, a user-adjustable potentiometer for pitch control, and a battery management system with USB charging. The casing was designed using 3D printing techniques to reduce production costs without compromising performance. User experiences and healthcare professionals’ feedback were obtained from market analysis that provided valuable insights into the device’s size, grip and acoustic output for further development. The final prototype was tested with 50 volunteers, providing results of speech intelligibility exceeding 90% accuracy, even without lip reading, in both English and Sinhala languages, and the total production cost was estimated to be 90% less than the cheapest commercial alternatives. This project demonstrates the feasibility of a cost-effective, user-friendly electrolarynx that maintains high intelligibility and adaptability. It not only offers a promising solution for voice rehabilitation but also, affordability to resourcelimited communities and opens pathways for local production. Future improvements include calibration, validation and sound quality optimisation. Overall, this project contributes practical solutions on how low-cost innovations can address real-world healthcare problems in limited settings.