SignificanceThe vocal folds are critically important structures within the larynx which serve the essential functions of supporting the airway, preventing aspiration, and phonation. The vocal fold mucosa has a unique multilayered architecture whose layers have discrete viscoelastic properties facilitating sound production. Perturbations in these properties lead to voice loss. Currently, vocal fold pliability is inferred clinically using laryngeal videostroboscopy and no tools are available for in vivo objective assessment.AimThe main objective of the present study is to evaluate viability of Brillouin microspectroscopy for differentiating vocal folds’ mechanical properties against surrounding tissues.ApproachWe used Brillouin microspectroscopy as an emerging optical imaging modality capable of providing information about local viscoelastic properties of tissues in noninvasive and remote manner.ResultsBrillouin measurements of the porcine larynx vocal folds were performed. Elasticity-driven Brillouin spectral shifts were recorded and analyzed. Elastic properties, as assessed by Brillouin spectroscopy, strongly correlate with those acquired using classical elasticity measurements.ConclusionsThese results demonstrate the feasibility of Brillouin spectroscopy for vocal fold imaging. With more extensive research, this technique may provide noninvasive objective assessment of vocal fold mucosal pliability toward objective diagnoses and more targeted treatments.
Cross-sectional 4-D imaging of vocal fold morphology and function is desirable for accurate diagnosis of many vocal fold pathologies, which occur throughout the epithelial layer and alter the mucosal wave. Clinical videoendoscopy provides qualitative diagnostic information but remains limited to surface visualization of layered vocal fold structure and two-dimensional mucosal vibration. While OCT has been investigated to address the shortcomings of standard 2-D endoscopy, challenges remain in reconstruction of the 4-D mucosal wave over the entire vocal fold structure. To address these challenges, we have developed a fast-scanning OCT laryngoscope to enable asynchronous Nyquist sampling of the human voice fundamental frequency range (and its harmonics, up to 1 kHz). We present a new algorithm for reconstruction of the 4-D vocal fold dynamics during phonation using OCT volume data of the entire anterior-posterior vocal fold structure. Reconstruction of the vibration of a vocal fold phantom confirmed feasibility of the algorithm and preliminary reconstruction of the in vivo vocal fold glottal cycle is presented. This work represents the first cross-sectional Nyquist sampling of the in vivo human mucosal wave using an OCT system with hardware capable of encompassing the human fundamental frequency range (i.e., 90-260 Hz). The developed OCT laryngoscope and algorithm will enable volumetric representations of vocal fold dynamics in the clinic and development of quantitative metrics for diagnostic and interventional guidance.
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