ELECTRICAL PACING OF THE PARALYZED HUMAN LARYNX

This study represents the first attempt to electrically pace the paral yzed human larynx. The goal was to determine if electrical stimulation of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle could produce functional abduc tion of the vocal fold in pace with inspiration. An external apparatus was used to sense inspiration and reanimate the unilaterally paralyze d larynx of a thyroplasty patient. Stimuli were delivered through a ne edle electrode to locate and pace the abductor muscle. The magnitude o f electrically induced abduction was comparable to spontaneous movemen t on the normal side. The abduction was appropriately timed with inspi ration; this finding demonstrated that this simple pacing system could effectively modulate stimulation with patient respiration.