Endoscopic laser-based 3D imaging for clinical real-time analysis of the human larynx

在科技和经济发达的国家，沟通障碍，特别是声音表达障碍，对个人和社会都是一种社会和经济上的不利因素。到目前为止，在临床常规中，只有二维成像用于喉部和声带的视觉评估。然而，深入了解喉部的精确几何形状、声带表面和发声过程中喉部的动态行为，可以得出各种病理的结论，如良性和恶性形态改变以及功能障碍。这个项目是基于这样的假设，即从长远来看，预期的基于多模态的3D成像技术将在喉科的临床常规中创造相当大的附加价值，因为这种新的测量系统为以下领域提供了客观和定量的陈述：非侵入性筛查，诊断支持，手术干预计划，治疗过程控制。在提案的第一阶段，中心目标是开发一种基于内窥镜激光的测量系统，该系统适用于对患者可见的3D喉部表面进行无创实时分析。这只能通过一个由医生、工程师和计算机科学家组成的跨学科团队的密切合作来实现：施密特教授领导的光子技术研究所提供基于硬件的成像单元开发。在Stamminger教授的指导下，计算机图形学主席致力于三维实时重建的软件开发。由Döllinger教授领导的音科学和儿科学部门提供有关激光安全性和所有已开发硬件和软件组件功能的临床专业知识和实验验证。在II期，我们将在埃尔兰根大学医院的耳鼻喉科进行广泛的研究，并对健康受试者和病理病例进行3D记录。除了获得潜在的语音流-结构-声学相互作用的基本知识外，我们还将能够识别相关的3D参数，定义标准值并根据其严重程度对病理进行分类。

In technical and economical advanced countries, communication disorders and especially impairment of our vocal expression represent a relevant social and economic disadvantage for both the individual and the society. Until now, in the clinical routine only 2D imaging is used for visual evaluation of the larynx and the vocal folds. However, a profound knowledge of the exact geometry of the larynx, the vocal fold surface and the laryngeal dynamic behavior during phonation would enable conclusions on diverse pathologies like benign and malignant morphological alterations as well as functional disorders. This project is based on the hypothesis, that in the long term, the intended multi-modal based 3D imaging technique will create a considerable added value in the clinical routine of laryngology, since this novel measurement system provides objective and quantitative statements for the following areas: non-invasive screening, support in diagnosis, planning of surgical interventions, control of therapeutic process.In the first phase of the proposal, the central objective is the development of an endoscopic laser-based measurement system, which is suitable for non-invasive real-time analysis of the visible 3D laryngeal surface of the patient. This can only be achieved by close cooperation in an interdisciplinary team of medical doctors, engineers and computer scientists: The Institute of Photonic Technologies headed by Prof. Schmidt provides the hardware-based development of the imaging unit. The Chair of Computer Graphics under the direction of Prof. Stamminger contributes the software-based development of 3D real-time reconstruction. The Division of Phoniatrics and Pedaudiology under Prof. Döllinger provides clinical expertise and experimental validation regarding laser safety and the functionality of all developed hardware and software components. In Phase II, we will conduct an extensive study at the ENT department of the University Hospital in Erlangen and perform 3D recordings on healthy test subjects and pathological cases. Besides the acquisition of fundamental knowledge of the underlying fluid-structure-acoustic interaction of phonation, we will be able to identify relevant 3D parameters, define normative values and classify pathologies in their degrees of severity.