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Adjustable Wave Tube Stand for Acoustic Reflection Technique (ART)

Project Overview

The Vocal Tract Development lab (VT Lab) plans to compare anatomic measurements secured from Acoustic reflection technology (ART)- also known as acoustic pharyngometry with measurements secured from imaging studies (MRI & CT). For the purpose of measurement reliability a stand needs to be developed for the ART wave tube. ART is a non-invasive, objective assessment of the vocal tract, which provides the cross-sectional area and volume of the upper airway. Acoustic Reflection Technique (ART) entails for the participant to exhale slowly into a wave tube. The wave tube has a mouth piece that keeps the subject’s tongue in position not blocking the airway - and ensures that all exhaled air passes through it. Sounds waves are emitted and the system’s microphone captures the acoustic reflections of the airway. The system then measures the amplitude of the reflections and time of arrival at the microphone and constructs a plot of airway area and distance from the lips/teeth (0 point on x-axis) to the glottis (Xue & Hao, 2006). Although ART has been available for about two decades (Fredberg et al, 1980; Hoffstein & Fredberg, 1991), only a limited number of studies that have examined the actual anatomic correlates of ART. Of those studies, only select ART measurements have been studied and those are reported to match with anatomic measurements obtained through MRI (Tameem & Mehta, 2004) and CT (D’Urzo et al, 1987; D’Urzo et al., 1988). Currently, researchers in the VT Lab need to hold the wave tube in their hands which is presenting variability in the data. It is difficult to hold the wave tube at the same angle during each trial within subjects and across subjects. Hood Laboratories, the company who makes AR technology, reports that they will not be offering an adjustable stand at this time or in the near future to keep the wave tube stable while testing in the upright and supine position. We plan to design and build a steady stand for the ART wave tube. The stand should be adjustable so that it may be used by individuals of different ages -- young children to adult. Also, the stand must allow the patient’s head to remain in a standardized position in the upright and supine position. Another important criterion is that the stand/unit should be easy to clean and disinfect.

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Contact Information

Team Members

  • Ryan Carroll - Team Leader
  • Jeremy Glynn - Communicator
  • Ben Engel - BSAC
  • Andrew Bremer - BWIG

Advisor and Client

  • Dr. Willis Tompkins - Advisor
  • Erin Douglas - Client
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