Biomechanical Characterization of Vocal Fold Tissues

描述(由申请人提供)： 这项建议描述了一项努力，全面量化人类声带细胞外基质(ECM)的生物力学特征，这些特征与语音产生和语音障碍相关。具体目标包括(1)量化正常结构和良性病变的人声带ECM的线性和非线性粘弹性特性；(2)建立分析和计算本构模型来表征经验测量的组织粘弹性特性；(3)量化声带ECM关键分子成分的相对生物力学重要性，并量化由这些ECM分子开发的可植入生物材料的线性和非线性粘弹性特性；(4)利用发声计算模型和喉部物理模型，研究新的组织粘弹性数据和植入性生物材料对声带振荡动力学的经验生物力学效应。本研究结果对声带ECM所致发声障碍的预防、评估和治疗具有重要意义。具体地说，拟议的研究结果将有助于发声计算机模型的实际实施和改进、发声过程中组织应力和应变的安全和病理范围的估计、潜在声音外科应用的可植入生物材料的工程以及发声过程中此类材料的生物力学效应的预测。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal describes an effort to comprehensively quantify the biomechanical characteristics of the human vocal fold extracellular matrix (ECM) that are relevant to voice production and voice disorders. Specific aims include (1) to quantify the linear and nonlinear viscoelastic properties of the ECM of human vocal folds with normal structure and with benign lesions, (2) to develop analytical and computational constitutive models to characterize the empirically measured tissue viscoelastic properties, (3) to quantify the relative biomechanical importance of the key molecular components of the vocal fold ECM, and to quantify the linear and nonlinear viscoelastic properties of implantable biomaterials developed from these ECM molecules, (4) to investigate the empirical biomechanical effects of the new tissue viscoelastic data and the implantable biomaterials on vocal fold oscillation dynamics, using computational models of phonation as well as a physical model of the larynx. The results of this research should have significant implications for the prevention, assessment and treatment of voice disorders involving the vocal fold ECM. Specifically, findings of the proposed studies should facilitate the realistic implementation and refinement of computer models of phonation, the estimation of safe and pathological ranges of tissue stresses and strains during phonation, the engineering of implantable biomaterials for potential phonosurgical applications, and the prediction of the biomechanical effects of such materials during phonation.