VOCIM - A SYSTEM FOR MEASURING THE LARYNX ENDOSCOPICALLY

Examination of the larynx with a flexible endoscope has been a standar d procedure for over 20 years. Although excellent images have been obt ained. there has not been a method for achieving any objective measure ments and there are clearly both research and clinical applications fo r this. The reason for this is firstly because of the inherent distort ion of the lens and secondly because of an absence of a reliable metho d of assessing the relative position of the endoscope within the laryn x. This paper illustrates the theory of how these problems have been o vercome and describes the equipment used in the clinical situation. Th e first clinical trial of the Vocim system is detailed, demonstrating an error of only 4%.