Connection Vol. 1, No. 1

• PENTAX Medical Acquires Kay Elemetrics
• Publications of Interest…
• Our Customers Ask…
• Adding Video Endoscopes to KayPENTAX Digital Recording Systems
• Pulsed Dye Laser for ENT Community
• Calendar of Upcoming Events
• Inaugural KayPENTAX Seminar at ASHA

PENTAX Medical Acquires Kay Elemetrics

On March 17, 2005, PENTAX Medical Company announced that it had acquired all of the operating assets of Kay Elemetrics Corp. Kay will continue its operations-now under the name KayPENTAX-as a division of
PENTAX Medical Company.

Said David Woods, president of PENTAX Medical Company, “Together, we plan to lead the market and help our customers provide their patients with the highest level of care, supported by the latest technology.”

The global leader in speech, voice, and swallowing instrumentation, Kay Elemetrics has maintained a dominant market share in the U.S. and abroad, with distribution in 40 countries worldwide. PENTAX Medical Company is an industry leader specializing in endoscopic and imaging products for diagnostic, therapeutic, and research applications in the GI, ENT, and pulmonary medical fields.

“We are excited to join the PENTAX family,” acknowledged John Crump, general manager of KayPENTAX and former president of Kay Elemetrics. “An acquisition of Kay by PENTAX Medical is consistent with Kay’s mission of being world leaders in speech, voice, and swallowing instrumentation. Kay and PENTAX make complementary products that work well together and I’m sure that we’ll now have the opportunity to develop those interfaces and improve them. Both of us have a long-term commitment to innovative products.” Woods also cited the many synergies the two companies share, specifically the “desire and commitment to develop state-of-the-art products that take care of people better.”

In addition to the host of current ENT and speech products marketed by Kay Elemetrics, KayPENTAX will now boast a comprehensive line of the best flexible endoscopes available for pharyngeal, laryngeal, and esophageal imaging. These include both fiberoptic and, technologically advanced, video endoscopes. Complementing the company’s imaging, acoustic analysis, and swallowing instrumentation is the recently introduced KayPENTAX/Cynosure Pulsed Dye Laser system being used in leading laryngology centers.

Publications of Interest...

Complete abstracts of the following recently published peer-reviewed articles, as well as the KayPENTAX instrumentation cited in each, are listed under KayPENTAX in the News at www.kaypentax. com.

Campisi, P., A. Low, B. Papsin, R. Mount, R. Cohen-Kerem, and R. Harrison. “Acoustic Analysis of the Voice in Pediatric Cochlear Implant Recipients: A Longitudinal Study,” Laryngoscope, Vol. 115, pp. 1046-1050, June 2005.

Zraick, Richard I., Kasie Y. Birdwell, and Laura Smith-Olinde. “The Effect of Speaking Sample Duration on Determination of Habitual Pitch,” Journal of Voice, Vol. 19 No. 2, pp. 197-201, June 2005.

Tanner, Kristine, Nelson Roy, Andrea Ash, and Eugene H. Buder. “Spectral Moments of the Long-Term Average Spectrum: Sensitive Indices of Voice Change After Therapy?” Journal of Voice, Vol. 19 No. 2, pp. 211-222, June 2005.

Deliyski, Dimitar D., Maegan K. Evans, and Heather S. Shaw. “Influence of Data Acquisition Environment on Accuracy of Acoustic Voice Quality Measurements,” Journal of Voice, Vol. 19 No. 2, pp. 176-186, June 2005.

Tabaee, Abtin, Thomas Murry, Anne Zschommler, and Rosemary B. Desloge. “Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallow-ing with Sensory Testing in Patients with Unilateral Vocal Fold Immobility: Incidence and Pathophysiology of Aspiration,” Laryngo-scope, Vol. 115, pp. 565-569, April 2005.

Vähätalo, Kimmo, Juha-Pertti Laaksonen, Henna Tamminen, Olli Aaltonen, and Risto-Pekka Happonen. “Effects of Genioglossal Muscle Advancement on Speech,” Otolaryn-gology, Vol. 132 No. 4, pp. 636-640, April 2005.

Hamdan, Abdul-Latif, Walid Medawar, Abbas Younes, Hala Bikhazi, and Nabil Fuleihan. “The Effect of Hemodialysis on Voice: An Acoustic Analysis,” Journal of Voice, Vol. 19 No. 2, pp. 290-295, June 2005.

Laukkanen, Anne-Maria, Nils Peter Mickelson, Marja Laitala, Tiina Syrjä, Arla Salo, and Marketta Sihvo. “The Effects of HearFones on Speaking and Singing Voice Quality,” Journal of Voice, Vol. 18 No. 4, pp. 475-487, December 2004.

Andrus, Jennifer G., Robert W. Dolan, and Timothy D. Anderson. “Transnasal Esophagoscopy: A High-Yield Diagnostic Tool,” Laryngoscope, Vol. 115, pp. 993-996, June 2005.

Thompson, Dana M., Michael J. Rutter, Colin D. Rudolph, J. Paul Willging, and Robin T. Cotton. “Altered Laryngeal Sensation: A Potential Cause of Apnea of Infancy,” Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology, Vol. 114 (4), pp. 258-263, April 2005.

Clyne, Stephen B., Stacey L. Halum, Jamie A. Koufman, and Gregory N. Postma. “Pulsed Laser Treatment of Laryngeal Granulomas,” Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology, Vol. 114 (3), pp. 198-201, March 2005.

Hartnick, Christopher, J., Seth Dailey, Ramon Franco, and Steven M. Zeitels. “Office-Based Pulsed Dye Laser Treatment for Hemmorhagic Telangiectasias and Epistaxis,” Laryngoscope, Vol. 113, pp. 1085-1087, June 2003.

Speyer, Renee, George H. Wieneke, Willem Kersing, and Philippe H. Dejonckere. “Accuracy of Measurements on Digital Videostroboscopic Images of the Vocal Cords,” Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology, Vol. 114 (6), pp. 443-450, June 2005.

Kearney, Pamela Reed, Christopher J. Poletto, Eric A. Mann, and Christy L. Ludlow. “Suppression of Thyroarytenoid Muscle Responses During Repeated Air Pressure Stimulation of the Laryngeal Mucosa in Awake Humans,” Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology, Vol. 114 (4), pp. 264-270, April 2005.

Rosen, Clark, A. “Stroboscopy as a Research Instrument: Development of a Perceptual Evaluation Tool,” Laryngoscope, Vol. 115, pp. 423-428, March 2005.

Our Customers Ask…

Q. I would like to insert a good quality head shot of each patient into my strobe exam reports. What is the best way to do this?

A. The process of adding a patient’s photo to an exam report and/or database is straightforward; it involves recording the patient’s face as part of the exam. After the exam is “saved,” return to playback, pause on the desired patient image, and under File, “Enter Patient Exam Info,” check “Insert Patient Picture.” This picture will now be used for all exams for that particular patient.  

There are two common ways to record the patient as part of the exam footage. The most ergonomic method is to mount a separate video camera or camcorder on the wall aimed at the exam chair. Connect this second camera to an unused video input on the strobe computer (typically the “composite” input). Under the video Input Source selection in the strobe application, select Other (composite). Record a section of the exam showing the patient’s face. Then, change the Input Source back to the S-Video input for the laryngeal camera, and continue the strobe exam.
An alternative approach is to simply use the laryngeal camera for the patient recording. There are several useful tips to obtain a suitable image using this method. Because the camera is typically set up for use with an endoscope (Endoscope camera file) using halogen or xenon light, the “color” is not optimized for room light. It is best to create a new endoscope camera file that is set up (white balanced) properly for room light; after doing this, save the camera file under a new name (e.g., Patient Picture). Use this file for patient picture recording and switch back to the normal file(s) for the strobe exam itself.

To enhance recording quality of the patient's face, a glare reduction shield that inserts into the endoscope adapter during this exam segment is available from KayPENTAX. As for lens focus adjustments, it is helpful to mark the lens so that it can be readjusted quickly to the “exam” position.

Q. How can I obtain the best print quality possible from my CSL?


A. Current versions of CSL, Multi-Speech, Visi-Pitch, and Sona-Speech use a “PrintScreen,” or screen dump, utility. This transfers the entire application screen to the printer with the same resolution and colors as displayed on the monitor. Because many of the more common “clinical” displays (e.g., pitch traces, MDVP, VRP, etc.) do not require high resolution, but do use color, they look best when printed to a standard color ink jet printer. If you choose to print a single active window (e.g., an MDVP radial graph only) rather than all of the open windows displayed, maximize the desired window before selecting “Print Screen.”

Printing spectrograms is a bit different, because they benefit more from high resolution and generally do not require color. Again, because the Print Screen utility prints to the same resolution as the screen, the CSL, in general, and spectrograms, in particular, benefit from running at a higher resolution. The difference between running your graphics at a resolution of 800 x 600 versus 1600 x 1200 is 4 to 1. Consequently, a print made using 1600 x 1200 will look substantially better.

Bear in mind that the CSL and other acoustic analysis products mentioned above are capable of displaying many windows of graphical information simultaneously. For this reason, as well as the printing benefit, you will be more pleased using these systems at the highest resolution and with the largest monitors available.

Adding Video Endoscopes to KayPENTAX Digital Recording Systems
 

The KayPENTAX Digital Strobe and Digital Swallowing Workstation contain digital recording platforms for stroboscopic and videoendoscopic (e.g., FEES) procedures. Both systems can be upgraded with the technologically-advanced video endoscopes now in the KayPENTAX product line. These “chip-tip” flexible endoscopes provide stunning image quality that is far superior to fiberoptic technology.

The KayPENTAX VNL-1170K video naso-pharyngoscope and EPK-1000 digital color processor can be easily connected to the stroboscopy or swallowing workstation digital recording systems. With this combination, the clinician can perform flexible endoscopic procedures (e.g., transnasal stroboscopy) that provide a full-screen, bright, crystal clear image of the vocal folds raising the standard of routine office endoscopy to a new level.

Complementing the VNL-1170K, and using the same EPK-1000 video processor, is the KayPENTAX transnasal esophagoscope (TNE), Model EE-1580K. This video scope’s 600mm length and 5.1mm insertion diameter enables esophagoscopy to be administered as an in-office procedure. The 2.0mm working channel of the 1580K allows the clinician to insufflate the esophagus, irrigate, and biopsy during the procedure, as required.

In increasing numbers, leading laryngology and voice centers are adding our advanced video scope technology to KayPENTAX digital recording systems.

Pulsed Dye Laser for ENT Community

For two decades, pulsed dye laser (PDL) treatment has been the standard of care for vascular malformations of the skin and the only laser used specifically for treatment of pediatric cutaneous vascular lesions because of its outstanding microvascular selectivity and specificity. This same technology is now being used in leading voice clinics for in-office laryngeal surgery, becoming the new standard of treatment for upper airway lesions and disease, including papilloma, dysplasia, granulomas, keratosis, and epistaxis. Patients can resume daily activities shortly after an in-office PDL procedure.

Unlike CO2 and KTP lasers, which ablate tissue indiscriminately, the PDL is based on selective photothermolysis, the theory that a vascular-specific laser wavelength, delivered in short, high-powered pulses, will selectively eliminate abnormal or diseased vasculature without damage to surrounding tissues. The KayPENTAX/Cynosure PhotoGenica-SV Pulsed Dye Laser is the first such instrumentation to be offered to the ENT community.

In effect, the PhotoGenica-SV PDL administers pulses of laser energy through an optical fiber. The monochromatic light passes through normal epithelium and mucosa and is absorbed by the hemoglobin of the abnormal vessels of the lesion. This absorbed laser energy is converted to heat, causing coagulation of the target vessels, thereby destroying the lesion. The laser’s pulse width is designed to confine heating to the target blood vessels, thus preserving the surrounding healthy tissue without scarring.

Delivered transnasally through the working channel of a KayPENTAX flexible fiberoptic endoscope (e.g., the KayPENTAX EE-1540), PDL treatment can be performed as an in-office procedure using local anesthesia, eliminating the risks associated with traditional surgery and general anesthesia.

A new DVD from KayPENTAX is available describing the procedure and providing clinical commentary on PDL from two leading laryngologists, Dr. Steven Zeitels (Massachusetts General Hospital) and Dr. Chuck Ford (University of Wisconsin Hospital). To obtain the DVD, as well as peer-reviewed articles and an extensive bibliography, please contact KayPENTAX.

Calendar of Upcoming Events

Please look for Kay products on display at the following conferences, workshops, and congresses.

Inaugural KayPENTAX Seminar at ASHA

KayPENTAX is pleased to announce its sponsorship of a newly created invited lectureship at the annual convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), to be held this year from November 18-20, in San Diego, CA. According to Robert McClurkin, KayPENTAX director of marketing, the idea for this program was developed in conjunction with the leaders of Special Interest Division 3 (Voice and Voice Disorders) and Division 13 (Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders). “This annual two-hour seminar promises to be of broad appeal, by focusing on an area of overlap between voice and swallowing sciences,” he noted. “We are pleased to be a part of it.”

Explained Leslie Glaze, Ph.D., Division 3 Coordinator, “We were eager to use this inaugural event as an opportunity to recognize a scientist who has provided rich depth and breadth to our knowledge of the upper airway as it applies to the complementary fields of voice and swallowing,”

“Our Divisions are extremely grateful to KayPENTAX for their willingness to support this scientific presentation on a recurring basis,” said Paula Sullivan, immediate past coordinator of Division 13 and 2005 Topic Coordinator for Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders. “By unanimous accord, we selected Dr. Christy Ludlow as our speaker for the first KayPENTAX lecture,” she added.

Dr. Ludlow is Chief of the Laryngeal and Speech Section of the Clinical Neurosciences Program at the National Institute on Neurological Disorders and Stroke. She has a long record as a leading scientist in speech physiology and functional organization and control of laryngeal function in voice, speech, and swallowing and she leads a team of investigators who study the pathogenesis of idiopathic voice and speech disorders. Dr. Ludlow is an elected fellow of the American Laryngological Association and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and will be awarded with the Honors of ASHA at the 2005 convention. For the KayPENTAX lecture, she has selected the topic, “Neural control of the laryngeal muscles for voice and swallowing,” to be presented Friday, Nov. 18, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., in the San Diego Convention Center Room 1A.