GB2451956A - Generating a signal which corresponds to the degree of opening of the vocal folds of the larynx - Google Patents
Generating a signal which corresponds to the degree of opening of the vocal folds of the larynx Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2451956A GB2451956A GB0814928A GB0814928A GB2451956A GB 2451956 A GB2451956 A GB 2451956A GB 0814928 A GB0814928 A GB 0814928A GB 0814928 A GB0814928 A GB 0814928A GB 2451956 A GB2451956 A GB 2451956A
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- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- light
- sensor
- vocal
- vocal folds
- signal
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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- 210000001260 vocal cord Anatomy 0.000 title claims abstract description 71
- 210000000867 larynx Anatomy 0.000 title claims abstract description 10
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 20
- 238000005286 illumination Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- 230000001960 triggered effect Effects 0.000 claims description 9
- 230000002452 interceptive effect Effects 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000003321 amplification Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000003199 nucleic acid amplification method Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 210000003800 pharynx Anatomy 0.000 claims 2
- 238000011156 evaluation Methods 0.000 abstract description 3
- 230000003071 parasitic effect Effects 0.000 abstract description 3
- 239000013307 optical fiber Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 210000004704 glottis Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 230000035515 penetration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000003437 trachea Anatomy 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
- A61B5/0059—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence
- A61B5/0082—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence adapted for particular medical purposes
- A61B5/0084—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence adapted for particular medical purposes for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters
- A61B5/0086—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence adapted for particular medical purposes for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters using infrared radiation
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
- A61B1/04—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor combined with photographic or television appliances
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
- A61B1/06—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor with illuminating arrangements
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
- A61B1/267—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor for the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes, bronchoscopes
- A61B1/2673—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor for the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes, bronchoscopes for monitoring movements of vocal chords
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Surgery (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Medical Informatics (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Pathology (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Biophysics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Biomedical Technology (AREA)
- Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Molecular Biology (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
- Radiology & Medical Imaging (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Otolaryngology (AREA)
- Physiology (AREA)
- Pulmonology (AREA)
- Endoscopes (AREA)
Abstract
A method for generating a signal corresponding to the degree of opening of the vocal folds 2 of the larynx, in which the vocal folds 2 are illuminated with near-infrared light from a light source 1. The light source 1 produces a signal modulated by the movement of the vocal folds 2, which is displayed and/or recorded by a sensor 6 and evaluation unit 9. Visible light from a stroboscopic source 7 containing little or no infrared light is used simultaneously to observe the vocal folds 2 with an endoscope 3. A mirror 5 couples out any infrared light from the light from light source 7 and this parasitic IR signal is received by sensor 10. The output signal of sensor 10 is used to compensate the output signal of sensor 6.
Description
1 2451956 Method and arrangement for generating a signal which corresponds to the degree of opening of the vocal folds of the larynx The invention relates to a method for generating a signal which corresponds to the degree of opening of the vocal folds of the larynx, according to the preamble of claim 1, and also to arrangements for carrying out this method.
The subsequently published document DE 10 2006 008 990 Al proposes a method in which the vocal folds arc illuminated on the one hand with light in the near-infrared light range (NIR light) and on the other hand with visible light which is free of infrared light. In said document, the NIR light is modulated in terms of its intensity by the movement of the vocal folds, is received by a sensor and is detected in order to generate a vocal fold signal which can be visualjsed. In order to allow a simultaneous endoscopic Observation of the vocal folds, Without impairing the vocal fold signal, light which is free of infrared light is used so that the vocal fold signal can be separated from the image signal by simple means.
The use of light in the near-infrared range is advantageous because organic tissue is particularly transparent to this light. The further away the infrared light, the less it penetrates due to the H20 absorption of the tissue. The penetration becomes increasingly poor in the direction of the visible wavelengths, so that a limit is reached at a wavelength of 600 nm. However, this means that the method according to DE 10 2006 008 990 Al in principle still functions even with longer-wave light, although it is more difficult to distinguish the light which is modulated by the vocal folds, the vocal fold light, from the illumination.
The present invention proposes measures which can be used to implement the method defined generally in claim 1.
As specified in claim 1, the invention can in principle be carried Out in a method according to the preamble if the vocal folds are illuminated with light having a wavelength greater than 600 nm or with red light, wherein the light which is modulated by the movement of the vocal folds, the vocal fold light, is received by a sensor and is detected in order to generate a vocal fold signal which can be visualised, and if visible light which at least contains little infrared or red light is used at the same time to observe the vocal folds.
Suitable sensors include in principle all components or modules which convert light signals into electric signals, such as e.g. photodiodes or photoresistors, but also linear image sensors or two-dimensional image sensors, as used in video cameras.
According to the proposal of claim 2, in order to suppress interfering signals, the vocal fold light is modulated and is synchronously demodulated after receipt by the sensor.
ft should be ensured here that the modulation frequency is much greater than the base frequency of the vocal fold signal, which is approximately 1 kHz.
According to claim 3, therefore, a modulation frequency of at least 20 kHz is proposed. The resolution of the vocal fold signal improves as the modulation frequency increases, wherein the complexity is quite high for modulation frequencies greater than 100 kHz.
In order to accurately observe the movement sequences of the vocal folds, it is proposed in DE 10 2006 008 990 Al to use for illuminating the vocal folds a stroboscopic light source which is triggered by means of the vocal fold signal.
According to the proposal in claim 4 of this patent application, the same result can be achieved according to the invention if a video camera is used, the camera shutter of which is triggered by means of the vocal fold signal. In this case, the vocal folds are illuminated with constant light instead of with flashing light.
This approach opens up a further possibility which is proposed in claim 5, according to which Continuous light which contains infrared light is used to illuminate the vocal folds and there is no separate emitter for producing the NIR light.
As proposed in claim 10 of DE 10 2006 008 990 Al, for this purpose the sensor for receiving the vocal fold signal must be attached to the neck of the patient below the larynx.
The vocal folds are illuminated with continuous light which also contains infrared light components, wherein the shutter of the camera is triggered by the red or infrared light component received by the sensor.
Nevertheless it must be acknowledged that, in this approach, extraneous radiation, e.g. from lamps, may lead to interference. However, this can be compensated if necessary by modulating the endoscopic illumination with a frequency which is too high for the camera, so that the latter receives effectively a Continuous light. The signal can be reconstructed through demodulation.
Also when using stroboscopic light sources, it is difficult to generate a useful vocal fold signal since the output signal of the sensor has to be extremely highly amplified.
The signal generated by the flash of the stroboscopic light source is large enough that the sensor, although it is in fact optimised Only for infrared light, also reacts to visible light. Furthermore, even LEDs generate a certain amount, albeit small, of infrared light. Therefore, despite all the filters and selective mirrors, the light generated by the flash interferes with the useful signal. Although this is not disadvantageous, since the time of the flash can be seen in the useful signal, which is also informative, it nevertheless has the disadvantage that it can no longer be triggered by means of the useful signal.
In order to avoid this disadvantage, two different measures are proposed.
According to the proposal in claim 6, interference in the signal received by the sensor is compensated by electronic means, namely by means of a track-and-hold amplifier which is controlled by the stroboscopic flash.
According to the proposal in claim 7, light signals of the stroboscopic light source, which are therefore free of useful signals, are coupled out by means of a sensor, wherein the signals generated by the sensor are Superposed on the useful signal in phase Opposition thereto in order -to compensate interfering signals.
This coupling-out may take place directly at the stroboscopic light source or else light signals may be coupled out via an optical fibre.
An arrangement which is suitable for this method forms the subject matter of claim 8 and will be explained in detail below on the basis of an example of embodiment.
Compared to the method according to claim 6, this approach has the advantage that the interfering signal is not passed on but rather is immediately compensated.
In the arrangement specified in claim 8, a mirror is provided which suppresses, i.e. reflects away, the infrared or red light signals by reflection, but on the other hand allows the visible light signals to pass through.
In principle, however, it is possible and equivalent to use a mirror which allows infrared and red light radiation to pass through and which reflects away the visible light signals. The only important thing is to separate the infrared and red light signals from the visible light signals.
It is better if, as in the arrangement according to claim 8, the interfering signal is not passed on at all, but rather is immediately Compensated. This proposal will be explained in detail below on the basis of an example of embodiment.
A further variant of an arrangement for carrying out the method according to the invention forms the subject matter of claim 9, in which a video camera is provided for observing the vocal folds.
While according to claim 7 of DE 10 2006 008 990 Al the mirror or the prism is arranged in the video camera behind the camera lens, this proposal can also be achieved if, as in the proposal according to the invention in claim 8, the mirror or the prism is arranged in front of the camera in such a way that the vocal fold signal passed through the endoscope lens is coupled out by reflection and is supplied to the sensor, while the visible light is supplied to the image sensor of the video camera.
The subject matter of the invention will be explained in detail below on the basis of an example of embodiment.
In the drawing: Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of an arrangement according to the invention with the head of the observer and the head of the patient, and Fig. 2 shows an enlarged detail from Fig. 1.
As in the example of embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of DE 10 2006 008 990 Al, the illustrated arrangement consists essentially of an endoscope 3 which is introduced into the pharyngeal space of the patient B and by means of which the observer A, that is to say e.g. the physician, can optically observe the vocal folds 2.
Flashing light produced by a stroboscopic light source 7 is fed into the illumination input 4 of the endoscope. In order that this light is free of infrared or red light, an infrared light mirror 5 is arranged between the light source 7 and the illumination input 4 and reflects, i.e. couples out, any infrared light Contained in the light of the light source 7 and allows only light in the visible wavelength range to pass through.
An emitter 1 which generates light in the near-infrared range, namely NIR light, is provided below the larynx of the patient B. The light produced by said emitter passes through the tissue of the neck and illuminates the trachea and thus the vocal folds 2 from below. This light passes through the vocal folds 2 to a greater or lesser extent depending on the degree of opening, and thus reaches the endoscope 3. It runs through the illumination optical fibre of the endoscope 3 and, via the illumination input 4, reaches the infrared light mirror 5. The latter reflects the infrared light RG emerging from the illumination input 4 of the endoscope 3 onto the infrared light sensor 6.
Since this infrared light laG is modulated in lerms of its intensity by the movement of the vocal fold opening, the glottis, the sensor 6 generates a signal which corresponds to the movement of the vocal folds.
Unlike in the arrangement shown in Fig. 4 of DE 10 2006 008 990 Al, a second identical sensor 10 is arranged opposite the sensor 6, which second sensor receives the flashing light with parasitic lB signal which is coupled out by means of the mirror 5, while the sensor 6 receives mainly the lB signal with parasitic flashing light. After suitable amplification, the output signal of the sensor 10 is superposed on the output signal of the sensor 6 in phase opposition thereto, as a result of which the interference caused by the flash is compensated. This signal is supplied to the evaluation unit 9, which is triggered by the vocal fold signals.
List of references 1 emitter 2 vocal folds 3 endoscope 4 illumination input infrared light mirror 6 sensor 7 light source 8 lens 9 evaluation unit sensor A observer B patient
Claims (9)
- Claims 1. Method for generating a signal which corresponds to the degree of opening of the vocal folds of the larynx, in which the vocal folds are illuminated by means of a light source and are optically observed by means of an endoscope and a signal which is modulated by the movement of the vocal folds, the vocal fold signal, is displayed and/or recorded, characterised in that the vocal folds are illuminated with light having a wavelength greater than 600 nm or with red light, and in that the light which is modulated by the movement of the vocal folds, the vocal fold light, is received by a sensor and is detected in order to generate a vocal fold signal which can be visuaij.sed, wherein visible light which contains little infrared or red light is used at the same time to observe the vocal folds.
- 2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that, in order to suppress interfering signals, the light for illuminating the vocal folds is modulated and is synchronously demodulated after receipt by the sensor.
- 3. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that the vocal fold light is modulated with a frequency of at least kHz.
- 4. Method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the vocal folds are observed by means of a video camera, characterised in that the video camera shutter is triggered by means of the vocal fold signal.
- 5. Method according to claim 4, in which the sensor for receiving the vocal fold signal is attached to the neck of the patient below the larynx, characterised in that the vocal folds are illuminated with continuous light which also contains infrared light components, wherein the shutter of the camera is triggered by the red or infrared light component received by the sensor.
- 6. Method according to claim 1, in which the vocal folds are illuminated by means of a stroboscopic light source which is triggered by the movement of the vocal folds, characterjsed in that interference in the signal received by the sensor is compensated by means of a track-and-- hold amplifier which is controlled by the stroboscopic flash.
- 7. Method according to claim 1, in which the vocal folds are illuminated by means of a stroboscopic light source which is triggered by the movement of the vocal folds, characterised in that light signals of the stroboscopic light source are coupled out by means of a sensor and the signals generated by the sensor are superposed on the useful signal in phase opposition thereto in order to compensate interfering signals.
- S. Arrangement for carrying out the method according to claim 7, comprising an emitter which can be attached to the neck of a patient below the larynx and which serves to illuminate the vocal folds, and an endoscope which can be introduced into the pharynx of the patient and which serves to receive the vocal fold signals, to supply stroboscopic light which contains little infrared or red light and to observe the vocal folds, wherein the vocal fold light on the light source or camera side is coupled out oy means of a mirror or prism which is transparent to the light containing little infrared or red light but on the other hand reflects NIR and red light, and is supplied to the sensor which is arranged between the stroboscopic light source and the illumination input of the endoscope lens in such a way that, on the one hand, infrared or red light radiation contained in the light of the light source is suppressed by reflection and, on the other hand, the vocal fold signal passed through the endoscope lens is coupled out by reflection and is supplied to the sensor, charaterjspr in that a second identical sensor (10) is arranged opposite the sensor (6) on the other side of the reflective mirror (5), and its output signal is matched by amplification to the output signal of the first sensor (6) and is Superposed on the latter in phase opposition in such a way that interference caused by stroboscopic flashes is compensated.
- 9. Arrangement for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 7, in which an emitter which can be attached to the neck of a patient below the larynx serves to illuminate the vocal folds, and an endoscope which can be introduced into the pharynx of the patient and which serves to receive the vocal fold signals, to supply light which contains little red or infrared light and to cbserve the vocal folds, the light for illuminating the vocal folds is passed through the lens of the endoscope and on the light source or camera side is coupled out by means of a mirror or prism which is transparent to the light containing little red or infrared light but on the other hand reflects the vocal fold light, and is supplied to the sensor, characterjsed in that the mirror or the prism is arranged in front of the lens of the video camera connected to the endoscope, and in that the vocal fold signal passed through the endoscope lens is coupled out by reflection and is supplied to the sensor, while the visible light is supplied to the image sensor of the video camera.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE102007038859.6A DE102007038859B4 (en) | 2006-02-23 | 2007-08-16 | Method and arrangement for generating a signal according to patent DE 10 2006 008 990 B4 corresponding to the opening state of the vocal folds of the larynx |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0814928D0 GB0814928D0 (en) | 2008-09-24 |
| GB2451956A true GB2451956A (en) | 2009-02-18 |
Family
ID=39812085
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0814928A Withdrawn GB2451956A (en) | 2007-08-16 | 2008-08-15 | Generating a signal which corresponds to the degree of opening of the vocal folds of the larynx |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2451956A (en) |
| NL (1) | NL1035822C2 (en) |
Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20060020172A1 (en) * | 2004-07-21 | 2006-01-26 | Rowiak Gmbh. | OCT laryngoscope |
| US20070208225A1 (en) * | 2006-02-23 | 2007-09-06 | Atmos Medizintechnik Gmbh & Co. Kg | Process and arrangement for the production of a signal that corresponds to the opening status of the vocal cords of the larynx |
| EP1859727A1 (en) * | 2006-05-26 | 2007-11-28 | Stichting voor de Technische Wetenschappen | optical triggering system for stroboscopy and a stroboscopic system |
Family Cites Families (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4909261A (en) * | 1989-02-13 | 1990-03-20 | Syracuse University | Tracking multielectrode electroglottograph |
| US8480566B2 (en) * | 2004-09-24 | 2013-07-09 | Vivid Medical, Inc. | Solid state illumination for endoscopy |
| US7811235B2 (en) * | 2004-10-13 | 2010-10-12 | Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary | Aerodynamic tissue driver |
-
2008
- 2008-08-14 NL NL1035822A patent/NL1035822C2/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2008-08-15 GB GB0814928A patent/GB2451956A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20060020172A1 (en) * | 2004-07-21 | 2006-01-26 | Rowiak Gmbh. | OCT laryngoscope |
| US20070208225A1 (en) * | 2006-02-23 | 2007-09-06 | Atmos Medizintechnik Gmbh & Co. Kg | Process and arrangement for the production of a signal that corresponds to the opening status of the vocal cords of the larynx |
| EP1859727A1 (en) * | 2006-05-26 | 2007-11-28 | Stichting voor de Technische Wetenschappen | optical triggering system for stroboscopy and a stroboscopic system |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB0814928D0 (en) | 2008-09-24 |
| NL1035822A1 (en) | 2009-02-17 |
| NL1035822C2 (en) | 2009-09-22 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |