Summary
Objectives
The extraction of a three-dimensional (3D) morphology of the human vocal tract (VT)
from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during sustained phonation can be used for various
analyses like numerical simulations or creating physical models. The precision of
visualizing techniques nowadays allows for very targeted acoustical simulation evaluating
the influence of subsections of the VT for the transfer function. The aim of the study
was to assess the accuracy of the 3D geometry based on MRI data in repetitive trials.
Study Design
This is a prospective study.
Methods
Four experienced singers underwent an MRI while repeating a specific vocal task 20
times consecutively. Audio recordings were made by means of an optical microphone.
Images were restacked and subsections of the VT were segmented on multi-image–based
cross sections using a semiautomatic algorithm. Different volume and area measures
were evaluated.
Results
A high reproducibility of the morphologic data based on multiple images by means of
the applied segmentation method could be shown with an overall variation of around
8%.
Conclusions
3D modeling of the VT during sustained phonation involves a complex experimental setting
and elaborate image processing techniques. Functional comparative analysis or acoustical
simulations based on such data should take the found variability into account.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 14, 2016
Accepted:
November 10,
2016
Identification
Copyright
© 2017 The Voice Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
