MEASUREMENT OF YOUNGS MODULUS IN THE IN-VIVO HUMAN VOCAL FOLDS

Currently, surgeons have no objective means to evaluate and optimize r esults of phonosurgery intraoperatively. Instead, they usually judge t he vocal folds subjectively by visual inspection or by listening to th e voice. This paper describes a new device that measures Young's (elas tic) modulus values for the human vocal fold intraoperatively. Physiol ogically, the modulus of the vocal fold may be important in determinin g the nature of vocal fold vibration in normal and pathologic states. This study also reports the effect of recurrent laryngeal nerve stimul ation on Young's modulus of the human vocal folds, measured by means o f transcutaneous nerve stimulation techniques. Young's modulus increas ed with increases in current stimulation to the recurrent laryngeal ne rve. Ultimately, Young's modulus values may assist surgeons in optimiz ing the results of various phonosurgeries.