Piezoelectric transducers for the direct measurement of medial forces in the glottis

Abstract

A piezoelectric wafer was introduced between the vocal folds to acquire signals related to the medial forces present during phonatory and vegetative behaviors. A flexible fiber-optic laryngoscope was used to guide the transducer into the glottis and provide visual confirmation of its position. When comparing the acoustic and glottal signals from each sustained phonation, a close relationship can be observed during changes in intensity and in fundamental frequency. This report illustrates the feasibility of this technique. Figures showing traces of the signals from the force transducer and the microphone will be presented.