TruTone

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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 rechargeable 9 V battery.[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 Laboratories, Inc. established.[6]

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

Enhancement/Therapy/Treatment

TruTone and TruTone Plus are devices that replace the speech producing functions of a larynx. Electrolarynges 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 electrolarynges, 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. He claimed:

After this terrible 24 hours, I reassembled my TruTone, pushed the button and again I heard that all familiar reassuring buzzing sound. IT STILL WORKS. That was six months ago, and I'm still using that same TruTone, cleaned and disinfected.[10]

Another customer that reported running it over by his car:

I walked down to the end of street where our mail box is and sure enough I found it. The bad part is that I drove over it with my truck. It is a little scratched but is working ok. Great testament to your design!!![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 is listed in the the U.S. Food and Drug Administration medical devices catalogue.[15]

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 electrolarynges. TruTone was selected as the second most reliable and user-friendly device, right after Servona's Servox.[16]

The manufacturer also sell a hands-free holder, which allows customers to speak without use their hands.[17]

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. ↑ Griffin Laboratories, Inc. Who is Griffin Laboratories, Inc.?. Griffin Laboratories, Inc. [online]. Available online at: http://www.griffinlab.com/About.html (Retrieved 9th January, 2017).
  5. ↑ Zoom Information, Inc. Griffin Laboratories Inc. Zoom Information, Inc. [online]. Available online at: http://www.zoominfo.com/s/#!search/profile/company?companyId=52381374&targetid=profile (Retrieved 9th January, 2017).
  6. ↑ Griffin Laboratories, Inc. Online Store: Welcome!. Griffin Laboratories, Inc. [online]. Available online at: http://www.griffinlab.com/catalog/-i-1.html (Retrieved 9th January, 2017).
  7. ↑ Griffin Laboratories, Inc. Online Store: TruTone(r) Electrolarynx. Griffin Laboratories, Inc. [online]. Available online at: http://www.griffinlab.com/catalog/trutoner-electrolarynx-pr-28.html (Retrieved 12th January, 2017).
  8. ↑ Griffin Laboratories, Inc. TruTone™ Electrolarynx Reviews. Griffin Laboratories, Inc. [online]. Available online at: http://www.griffinlab.com/Reviews.html (Retrieved 12th January, 2017).
  9. ↑ Amazon.com, Inc. Customer Reviews. Amazon.com, Inc. [online]. Available online at: http://www.amazon.com/Maxi-Aids-Trutone-Electrolarynx/dp/B003E6LNTE#customerReviews (Retrieved 12th January, 2017).
  10. ↑ LOWE, Carson. The Reliable TruTone Electrolarynx. Griffin Laboratories, Inc. [online]. Available online at: http://www.griffinlab.com/Reviews.html#clowe (Retrieved 12th January, 2017).
  11. ↑ Customer R. This should give you a laugh. Griffin Laboratories, Inc. [online]. Available online at: http://www.griffinlab.com/catalog/trutoner-electrolarynx-pri-28.html?reviews_id=44 (Retrieved 12th January, 2017).
  12. ↑ SHAH, Shilpa. From Ms. Shilpa Shah in Mumbai, India. Griffin Laboratories, Inc. [online]. Available online at: http://www.griffinlab.com/catalog/trutoner-electrolarynx-pri-28.html?reviews_id=41 (Retrieved 12th January, 2017).
  13. ↑ Max H. I was first intgroduced to the Trutone at the IAL in Indianapolis. Griffin Laboratories, Inc. [online]. Available online at: http://www.griffinlab.com/catalog/trutoner-electrolarynx-pri-28.html?reviews_id=11 (Retrieved 12th January, 2017).
  14. ↑ David A. The TruTone has been a blessing for me, people or better able to understand me now. Griffin Laboratories, Inc. [online]. Available online at: http://www.griffinlab.com/catalog/trutoner-electrolarynx-pri-28.html?reviews_id=28 (Retrieved 12th January, 2017).
  15. ↑ U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Establishment Registration & Device Listing. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Available online at: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfRL/rl.cfm?lid=447814&lpcd=ESE (Retrieved 12th January, 2017).
  16. ↑ SHURE, Brian. Perceptions of Artificial Larynx Reliability According to Laryngectomees and Speech-Language Pathologists. drshute.com [online]. 2003. Available online at: http://www.drshute.com/archives/2005/09/perceptions_of.html (Retrieved 12th January, 2017).
  17. ↑ Atos Medical. Trutone™ Electrolaynx. Atos Medical [online]. Available online at: http://www.atosmedical.co.uk/product/trutone-electrolaynx/ (Retrieved 12th January, 2017).
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