High-speed digital imaging and electroglottography of tracheoesophageal phonation by Amatsu's method

Abstract

Background. Our previous findings have indicated that the thyropharyngeal muscles form a retropharyngeal prominence during alaryngeal phonation via the TE fistula. This prominence forms a so-called ‘neoglottis’, which is thought to function as the vibratory source. To better understand the mechanism of TE phonation, we analyzed the vibration of the neoglottis using electroglottography (EGG) and a high-speed digital imaging system. Patients and methods. Two volunteers who use TE phonation for their daily speech communication were subjected to this study. The vibrations of the neoglottis were recorded simultaneously as EGG and high-speed imaging with acoustic signals. Results. The vibrations of the neoglottis, recorded by means of high-speed digital imaging, were exactly synchronized with the waveforms of the acoustic signals and EGG. Conclusions. These results further confirm the neoglottis as the source of vibration during tracheoesophageal (TE) phonation.

• Tracheoesophageal phonation
• electroglottography
• acoustic signals
• neoglottis
• high-speed digital imaging