Biomechanical Characterization of Vocal Fold Tissues

描述（由申请人提供）： 该提案描述了一种努力，以全面量化的生物力学特性的人声带细胞外基质（ECM）的声音产生和语音障碍有关。具体目的包括（1）量化具有正常结构和良性病变的人声带ECM的线性和非线性粘弹性性质，（2）开发分析和计算本构模型以表征经验测量的组织粘弹性性质，（3）量化声带ECM的关键分子组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性质;（4）使用发声的计算模型以及喉的物理模型，研究新的组织粘弹性数据和可植入生物材料对声带振荡动力学的经验生物力学效应。这项研究的结果应该有显着的影响，预防，评估和治疗涉及声带ECM的语音障碍。具体而言，拟议的研究结果应促进现实的实施和完善的计算机模型发声，估计安全和病理范围内的组织应力和应变发声，潜在的phonosurgical应用工程植入式生物材料，并预测生物力学效应的材料在发声。

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.