| CPC G10L 15/25 (2013.01) | 20 Claims |
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1. A speech-enabling system to enhance communication with a person where the person has lost the ability to speak but can still move his or her tongue or the person can only make unfathomable sounds which are unable to be recognized as intelligible words, comprising:
a computer system running a software program for operating the system in an active mode and a training mode;
a microphone in communication with the software program;
a camera in communication with the software program;
a speaker in communication with the software program;
a system triggering device in communication with the software program;
a vibration sensor adapted to be secured to the patient at a position where the vibration sensor can pick up or sense throat movements by the patient, the vibration sensor in communication with the software program; and
a monitor or display in communication with the software program;
wherein in an operating mode when the patient attempts to speak, tongue movements by the patient are captured by the camera and digital information or data concerning the tongue movements are forwarded to and received by the software program, audio expressed by the patient is captured by the microphone and digital information or data concerning the audio is forwarded to and received by the software program, and vibrations from throat movements by the patient are captured by the vibration sensor and digital information or data concerning the throat movements are forwarded to and received by the software program;
wherein the software program is configured to use the information or data concerning the tongue movements captured by the camera, audio captured by the microphone and vibrations from the throat movements captured by the vibration sensor and to translate the information or data into a known word.
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