Electrically conductive synthetic vocal fold replicas for voice production research.

A method of fabricating electrically conductive synthetic vocal fold replicas and monitoring their vibration via resistance measurement is presented. Normally non-conductive silicone replicas were coated with conductive graphite and subjected to long-term vibration tests. Synchronized resistance and imaging data using hemilarynx and full larynx configurations showed an inverse correlation between replica contact area and resistance during vibration, similar to clinical electroglottography (EGG) used to estimate vocal fold contact area. This method has potential for long-term replica vibration monitoring and studying basic physical relationships between resistance and contact area in vocal folds and vocal fold replicas.