Virtual cell phone stroboscopy for visualization of vocal fold vibration

喉科学是研究和治疗声带及其功能，如说话，呼吸和吞咽。分析和治疗从危及生命的气道不适到声音嘶哑的各种疾病需要使用专门的设备。Clearwater Clinical最近开发了一种改变实践的方法，使用手机从现有的内窥镜设备中记录高清视频。然而，快速喉部运动的分析需要超高速摄像机（每秒3600帧（fps））或昂贵的频闪仪。 传统的频闪术使用同步的闪光灯以明显的慢动作观察声带。通过移动终端捕获的图像无法充分减速以用于临床。移动的设备的最大帧速率当前在30-120 fps之间变化。这太慢了，无法充分显示喉部。然而，智能手机存储声音和图像的能力可以在软件中执行时实现相同的“频闪”功能。 基于软件的频闪仪的开发将通过消除对专用硬件的需要而使喉部内窥镜设备的使用民主化，取而代之的是低成本和深远的技术。在这样做的过程中，它将改善当地和世界各地的喉科学。

Laryngology is the study and treatment of the voice box and its function with respect to speaking, breathing and swallowing. Analysis and treatment of various conditions ranging from life-threatening airway distress to hoarseness requires access to specialized equipment. Clearwater Clinical recently developed a practice-changing way to record high-definition video from existing endoscopic equipment using a cell phone. However, analysis of rapid laryngeal motion requires either a super high-speed camera (3600 frames per second (fps)) or an expensive stroboscope. Traditional stroboscsopy uses a synchronized, flashing light to observe the vocal folds in apparent slow motion. The images captured through a mobile device cannot be slowed down sufficiently to be clinically useful. Maximum frame rates of mobile devices currently vary from 30-120 fps. This is much too slow to adequately visualize the larynx. However the smartphone's capacity to store both sound and images may enable the same "stroboscopic-like" functionality when performed in software. Development of a software based stroboscope will democratize access to endoscopic equipment for laryngology by obviating the need for the specialized hardware and instead replace it with a low-cost and far-reaching technology. In doing so it would improve laryngology locally and around the world.