Skip to main content

ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Physiol.
Sec. Computational Physiology and Medicine
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1455360

Influence of Flow Rate and Fiber Tension on Dynamical, Mechanical and Acoustical Parameters in a Synthetic Larynx Model with Integrated Fibers

Provisionally accepted
Lucia Gühring Lucia Gühring Bogac Tur Bogac Tur Marion Semmler Marion Semmler Anne Schützenberger Anne Schützenberger Stefan Kniesburges Stefan Kniesburges *
  • Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    The human voice is generated by the oscillation of the vocal folds induced by exhalation airflow. Consequently, the characteristics of these oscillations and the primary sound signal are controlled by the longitudinal tension of the vocal folds, the flow rate, and their prephonatoric position. To facilitate independent control of these parameters, a synthetic larynx model was developed, as detailed in a previous publication. This study aims to statistically analyze the influence of airflow and fiber tension on phonation characteristics, such as periodicity and symmetry, glottis closure during vocal fold oscillations, as well as tissue elasticity and generated sound. A total of 76 experiments were conducted and statistically analyzed with a systematic variation of flow rate and longitudinal tension within the vocal folds. During these experiments, vocal fold motion, subglottal pressure, and emitted sound were meticulously measured and analyzed. Groupwise statistical testing identified the flow rate as the main influencing parameter on nearly all phonation characteristics. However, the fundamental frequency, stiffness parameters, and quality parameters of the primary sound signal are predominantly controlled by the longitudinal tension within the vocal folds. The results demonstrated a complex interplay between the flow rate and tension, resulting in different characteristics of the produced sound signal.

    Keywords: biomimetic larynx model, flow-induced vocal folds' oscillations, fluid-structure-acoustic-interaction, physiological phonation characteristics, integrated fibers in synthetic larynx model

    Received: 12 Jul 2024; Accepted: 04 Nov 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Gühring, Tur, Semmler, Schützenberger and Kniesburges. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Stefan Kniesburges, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.