Intraoperative measurement of the elastic modulus of the vocal fold. Part 1. Device development.

Although the concept of manipulating laryngeal biomechanics to improve vocal function is not new, there has been a recent proliferation in surgical techniques used to affect laryngeal function. These include methods which increase the stiffness of the vocal folds, medialize the vocal folds, alter the pitch by changing the tension of the vocal folds, and augment the tissues using injection of alloplastic materials. Despite these new and possibly revolutionary methods, no means are presently available to surgeons to intraoperatively evaluate and optimize results of a surgical intervention. This study involved the development of a device to measure the in vivo elastic modulus of the vocal folds.