title: Automated setup for ex vivo larynx experiments.
abstract: Ex vivo larynx experiments are limited in time due to degeneration of the laryngeal tissues. In order to acquire a significant and comparable amount of data, automatization of current manual experimental procedures is desirable. A computer controlled, electro-mechanical setup was developed for time-dependent variation of specific physiological parameters, including adduction and elongation level of the vocal folds and glottal flow. The setup offers a standardized method to induce defined forces on the laryngeal cartilages. Furthermore, phonation onset is detected automatically and the subsequent measurement procedure is automated and standardized to improve the efficiency of the experimental process. The setup was validated using four ex vivo porcine larynges, whereas each validation measurement series was executed with one separate larynx. Altogether 31 single measurements were undertaken, which can be summed up to a total experimental time of about 4 min. Vocal fold elongation and adduction lead both to an increase in fundamental frequency and subglottal pressure. Measurement procedures like applying defined subglottal pressure steps and onset-offset detection were reliably executed. The setup allows for a computer-based parameter control, which enables fast experimental execution over a wide range of laryngeal configurations. This maximizes the number of measurements and reduces personal effort compared with manual procedures.
authors.affiliation: Medical School, Division of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, Raumerstrasse 1a, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Birk
authors.affiliation: Medical School, Division of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, Raumerstrasse 1a, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Döllinger
authors.affiliation: Chair of Sensor Technology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Paul-Gordan-Strasse 3/5, 91052 Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sutor
authors.affiliation: Laryngeal Dynamics Laboratory, Division of Head and Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90095-1624, USA.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Berry
authors.affiliation: Chair of Sensor Technology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Paul-Gordan-Strasse 3/5, 91052 Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gedeon
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, Waldstrasse 1, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Maximilian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Traxdorf
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Molecular Biology at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, Waldstrasse 1, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Wendler
authors.affiliation: Medical School, Division of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, Raumerstrasse 1a, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bohr
authors.affiliation: Medical School, Division of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, Raumerstrasse 1a, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kniesburges
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057205:Automation, Laboratory; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007825:Laryngectomy; D007830:Larynx / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D023421:Models, Animal; D010699:Phonation; D011312:Pressure; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D034421:Sus scrofa; D013997:Time Factors; D014160:Transducers, Pressure; D014741:Video Recording / Q000379:methods*