NATIONAL R&D PROJECTS

摘要

This section describes various R&D projects being carried out in Japan on a national scale. Today in Japan, there are an estimated 20,000 patients with pharynx cancer (16 patients per 100,000 population), and the number is increasing from year to year. These patients are deprived of their vocal chords due to pharynx removal surgery and therefore lose the function of speech. By training these persons in esophageal speech, or in the art of vibrating the upper parts of the esophagus in place of the vocal chords, they can hold a conversation.