Difference between revisions of "TruTone"

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TruTone and TruTone Plus are electrolarynx devices manufactured by an American speech aid electronics company Griffin Laboratories, Inc. These devices are speech technologies aimed towards patients after total laryngectomy who lost their natural ability to produce voice.<ref name="website">http://www.griffinlab.com/Products/TruTone-Electrolarynx.html</ref>
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TruTone and TruTone Plus are electrolarynx devices manufactured by an American speech aid electronics company Griffin Laboratories, Inc. These devices are speech technologies aimed towards patients after total laryngectomy who lost their natural ability to produce voice.<ref name="website">Griffin Laboratories, Inc. TruTone™. Griffin Laboratories, Inc. [online]. Available online at: http://www.griffinlab.com/Products/TruTone-Electrolarynx.html (Retrieved 12th January, 2017).</ref>
  
 
== Main characteristics ==
 
== Main characteristics ==
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The company offers two TruTone products:
 
The company offers two TruTone products:
 
[[File:Trutone plus 1.png|130px|thumbnail|right|TruTone Plus electrolarynx]]
 
[[File:Trutone plus 1.png|130px|thumbnail|right|TruTone Plus electrolarynx]]
'''TruTone''' is a "light weight and small size" (the device weights approximately 128 grams) electrolarynx that features a on/off button with pressure sensitivity that allows the user to control the pitch of the produced sound with only one thumb on the device. It also features a thumb wheel to control the volume. The manufacturer advertises that the device has the widest tonal range available in comparison to competing devices. It is equipped with one 9 V battery but it is not clear whether the included battery is rechargeable.<ref name="website" /> The manufacturer offers 5 years warranty within the United States. The device costs 600 USD.<ref name="cost">http://www.griffinlab.com/catalog/trutone-electrolarynx-p-28.html</ref>
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'''TruTone''' is a "light weight and small size" (the device weights approximately 128 grams) electrolarynx that features a on/off button with pressure sensitivity that allows the user to control the pitch of the produced sound with only one thumb on the device. It also features a thumb wheel to control the volume. The manufacturer advertises that the device has the widest tonal range available in comparison to competing devices. It is equipped with one 9 V battery but it is not clear whether the included battery is rechargeable.<ref name="website" /> The manufacturer offers 5 years warranty within the United States. The device costs 600 USD.<ref name="cost"> Griffin Laboratories, Inc. Online Store: TruTone Plus(tm) Electrolarynx --with USB charging. Griffin Laboratories, Inc. [online]. Available online at: http://www.griffinlab.com/catalog/trutone-electrolarynx-p-28.html (Retrieved 12th January, 2017).</ref>
  
'''TruTone Plus''' is in all aspects identical with the device above. But it additionally features a USB port through which the device's battery can be charged.<ref name="trutoneplus">http://www.griffinlab.com/catalog/new-usb-trutoner-electrolarynx-with-full-charge-p-96.html</ref> The device costs 749 USD.<ref name="trutoneplus" />
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'''TruTone Plus''' is in all aspects identical with the device above. But it additionally features a USB port through which the device's battery can be charged.<ref name="trutoneplus"> Griffin Laboratories, Inc. Online Store: TruTone Plus(tm) Electrolarynx --with USB charging. Griffin Laboratories, Inc. [online]. Available online at: http://www.griffinlab.com/catalog/new-usb-trutoner-electrolarynx-with-full-charge-p-96.html (Retrieved 12th January, 2017).</ref> The device costs 749 USD.<ref name="trutoneplus" />
  
 
=== Purpose ===
 
=== Purpose ===

Revision as of 09:15, 12 January 2017

TruTone
Trutone kit 1.jpg
Category Electrolarynx
Developer Griffin Laboratories, Inc. [1]
Announced
Released
Price 600 USD [2] (749 USD[3] TruTone Plus) (Winter 2016/2017)
Weight 128 g [1]
Controls

buttons [1]

Data available
Risk factor
http://www.griffinlab.com/Products/TruTone-Electrolarynx.html

TruTone and TruTone Plus are electrolarynx devices manufactured by an American speech aid electronics company Griffin Laboratories, Inc. These devices are speech technologies aimed towards patients after total laryngectomy who lost their natural ability to produce voice.[1]

Main characteristics

TruTone electrolarynx

The company offers two TruTone products:

TruTone Plus electrolarynx

TruTone is a "light weight and small size" (the device weights approximately 128 grams) electrolarynx that features a on/off button with pressure sensitivity that allows the user to control the pitch of the produced sound with only one thumb on the device. It also features a thumb wheel to control the volume. The manufacturer advertises that the device has the widest tonal range available in comparison to competing devices. It is equipped with one 9 V battery but it is not clear whether the included battery is rechargeable.[1] The manufacturer offers 5 years warranty within the United States. The device costs 600 USD.[2]

TruTone Plus is in all aspects identical with the device above. But it additionally features a USB port through which the device's battery can be charged.[3] The device costs 749 USD.[3]

Purpose

The TruTone series of devices is directed towards laryngectomees that have lost their ability to produce speech. The usage of an electrolarynx allows them to communicate in a quick and natural manner without resorting to other means such as pen and paper.

Company & People

The device is manufactured by an American company Griffin Laboratories, Inc. The company is based in Temecula, California.[4][5]

Important Dates

1995 - Griffin Laboraries, Inc. established.[6]

The company does not inform about any other important dates that are relevant to this particular device.

Enhancement/Therapy/Treatment

Treatment - TruTone and TruTone Plus are devices that replace the speech producing functions of a larynx. Electrolarynxes are meant to return the ability to communicate by voice for laryngectomy patients.

Ethical & Health Issues

There are no ethical or health issues connected to this particular device.

For more general issues connected with smartglasses, please see the Electrolarynx synopsis.

Public & Media Impact and Presentation

There are a number of testimonials[7] and reviews[8] available on the official website as well as a few user reviews on Amazon.[9]

All user opinions commend the sturdiness of the device. One user report that the device remained working after he accidentally dropped it into a toilet[10], or another customer that reported running it over by his car.[11] Other users praise the user-friendliness of the device,[12], quality of the produced sound,[13], and additional service provided by the company.[14]

Public Policy

The company does not appear to be listed in the the U.S. Food and Drug Administration medical devices catalogue.

Related Technologies, Projects or Scientific Research

The official website mentions a self-published research by the speech pathologist Brian Shute, Ph.D. In the article, the author compares the reactions of laryngectomees to different brand of electrolarynxes. TruTone was selected as the second most reliable and user-friendly device, right after Servona's Servox.[15]

For more information about this type of devices, please see the Electrolarynx synopsis.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Griffin Laboratories, Inc. TruTone™. Griffin Laboratories, Inc. [online]. Available online at: http://www.griffinlab.com/Products/TruTone-Electrolarynx.html (Retrieved 12th January, 2017).
  2. 2.0 2.1 Griffin Laboratories, Inc. Online Store: TruTone Plus(tm) Electrolarynx --with USB charging. Griffin Laboratories, Inc. [online]. Available online at: http://www.griffinlab.com/catalog/trutone-electrolarynx-p-28.html (Retrieved 12th January, 2017).
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Griffin Laboratories, Inc. Online Store: TruTone Plus(tm) Electrolarynx --with USB charging. Griffin Laboratories, Inc. [online]. Available online at: http://www.griffinlab.com/catalog/new-usb-trutoner-electrolarynx-with-full-charge-p-96.html (Retrieved 12th January, 2017).
  4. http://www.griffinlab.com/About.html
  5. http://www.zoominfo.com/s/#!search/profile/company?companyId=52381374&targetid=profile
  6. http://www.griffinlab.com/catalog/-i-1.html
  7. http://www.griffinlab.com/catalog/trutoner-electrolarynx-pr-28.html
  8. http://www.griffinlab.com/Reviews.html
  9. http://www.amazon.com/Maxi-Aids-Trutone-Electrolarynx/dp/B003E6LNTE#customerReviews
  10. http://www.griffinlab.com/Reviews.html#clowe
  11. http://www.griffinlab.com/catalog/trutoner-electrolarynx-pri-28.html?reviews_id=44
  12. http://www.griffinlab.com/catalog/trutoner-electrolarynx-pri-28.html?reviews_id=41
  13. http://www.griffinlab.com/catalog/trutoner-electrolarynx-pri-28.html?reviews_id=11
  14. http://www.griffinlab.com/catalog/trutoner-electrolarynx-pri-28.html?reviews_id=28
  15. http://www.drshute.com/archives/2005/09/perceptions_of.html