Noninvasive method for detecting laryngeal narrowing with low-frequency sound

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Abstract
We measured laryngeal narrowing with low-frequency sound in human subjects. A low-frequency sound of 800 Hz was forced into the mouth, and sound-pressure amplitude above (SPAa) and below the vocal cord (SPAb) was detected using two separate microphones at the anterior neck. If the subject voluntarily narrowed the larynx at functional residual capacity, the increased respiratory resistance (Rrs) was only caused by increased laryngeal resistance, and SPAa was increased and SPAb was decreased. The percent changes of SPAa (SPAa%) minus that SPAb (SPAb%) from the initial values (SPAa% - SPAb% = Y) was proportional to the increase of Rrs from the initial control state (X, cmH2O X 1-1 X s); Y = 22.4 X1.20 (coef of correlation, r = 0.96, P less than 0.01). We confirmed similar proportions in dogs by manually narrowing the vocal cord. When laryngeal resistance was directly measured by tracheal puncture with a needle, the proportions between Y and X were not significantly dependent on the increase of Rrs below the vocal cord induced by methacholine inhalation in human subjects and histamine injection in dogs. We concluded that the increase of laryngeal resistance from the initial state could be detected noninvasively by using low-frequency sound.