Functional Electrical Stimulation of the Feline Larynx With a Flexible Ribbon Electrode Array.
OBJECTIVE
Success of laryngeal reanimation through neurorrhaphy has been limited by synkinesis and preoperative muscle atrophy. The objective of this study was to investigate the use of epimysial electrode arrays as a means of delivering electrical stimulation to the posterior cricoarytenoid muscles in order to control laryngeal abduction.


METHODS
Ribbon electrode arrays with 4 or 8 electrode contacts were used. Four cats underwent implantation of electrode arrays along the surface of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscles. The glottis was visualized with a 0° telescope while electrodes were stimulated at different amplitudes and pulse-width durations. Recordings of stimulated vocal folds were analyzed, and the degree of vocal fold abduction was measured in order to create recruitment curves for the left and right posterior cricoarytenoid. Recruitment curves from electrode channels within the array were compared.


RESULTS
Electrodes oriented along the medial aspect of the posterior cricoarytenoid stimulated graded physiologic degrees of abduction depending on the amplitude of stimulation. Electrodes oriented laterally along the posterior cricoarytenoid stimulated greater degrees of simultaneous adduction with abduction.


CONCLUSIONS
Acute studies of ribbon surface electrode arrays placed onto the posterior cricoarytenoid reproduce graded degrees of abduction necessary for the precise function of respiration and speech.
Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Morgan R
MR
Bliss
Department of Bioengineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Heather
H
Wark
Ripple LLC, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Daniel
D
McDonnall
Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA marshall.smith@hsc.utah.edu.
Marshall E
ME
Smith
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004566:Electrodes; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D007821:Laryngeal Muscles / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000503:physiopathology
electrodes; implanted; larynx; muscles