Connection Vol. 2, No. 1

• New Products Introduced
• Publications of Interest…
• Our Customers Ask…
• Digital Strobe Database Flexibility
• Preconvention Workshop at ASHA 2006
• Calendar of Upcoming Events

New Products Introduced

 KayPENTAX is pleased to announce the introduction of two new products: the Phonatory Aerodynamic System (PAS) and the Ambulatory Phonation Monitor (APM). The first, the PAS, is used for measuring airflow and pressure parameters related to speech and voice production; the second, the APM, is a portable lightweight device that can be worn throughout an entire day of normal activity to extract important parameters of vocal behavior. “Each” says Robert McClurkin, director of product management and marketing at KayPENTAX, “should prove a welcome addition to the broad range of KayPENTAX instrumentation currently used in leading speech and voice clinics throughout the world.”

Based on years of experience with aerodynamic instrumentation, PAS is a robust, PC-compatible, hardware/software system developed at KayPENTAX with input from preeminent clinicians and voice scientists. Its ergonomic design provides for ease of use in speech/ENT clinics and voice labs alike; additionally, PAS integrates well with other KayPENTAX acoustic analysis products that share a common data format and user interface. Among the measurements obtained from PAS are average phonatory flow rate, fundamental frequency, sound pressure level, subglottal pressure (derived), vital capacity, glottal resistance, and efficiency parameters.

User-alterable, built-in PAS protocols readily control the capture, display, and processing parameters required to obtain the results of interest to the speech scientist or clinician. “The protocol-driven nature of the system simplifies data collection for the user by automatically issuing specific instructions on equipment use, vocal assessment tasks to be performed by the client, and analysis procedures to be followed,” McClurkin explains.

Because many clinics routinely capture imaging and acoustic data during patient evaluation, including stroboscopic or high-speed video data, the complementary PAS measurements help provide a comprehensive profile of patient performance which can be tracked from initial evaluation through intervention.

Aside from its computer host, PAS is a fully integrated system supplied with all necessary peripherals: a pneumotach, airflow masks, disposable mouthpiece tubes, intraoral pressure tubes, and a microphone, all housed on an innovative hardware encasement for daily use in the clinic or research lab.

The APM, developed by KayPENTAX in collaboration with Sensimetrics Corporation and clinicians at Massachusetts General Hospital, provides objective data as to how individuals use their voices throughout the day, outside the clinic, without relying solely on subjective and often unreliable self-reports. Quantitative measures of when, how long, how loud, and at what pitch the client vocalizes are obtained throughout the data collection period with a small accelerometer (contact microphone) adhered to the base of the client’s neck and connected by a cable to a hardware module worn in a waistpack. The clinician then downloads the data to a PC for analysis with APM software.

“Many voice disorders are the result of habitual faulty use,” notes McClurkin. “Yet clinicians have never had a practical method to objectively monitor how patients are using their voices throughout the day. APM provides that capability.” Because the APM collects extracted voice parameters only and not actual speech samples, clients need not worry about the confidentiality of their daily discourse.

Just as important as the objective data acquired by the APM, is the real-time feedback it provides, through a small vibrotactile unit worn on the client’s belt or in a pocket. Using the APM software to customize the unit for each client, the clinician can set a threshold (such as an amplitude value), which when exceeded, will elicit a vibrotactile sensation. This powerful self-monitoring feature of APM is designed to help patients recognize abusive vocal behaviors and modify them with the aim of achieving therapy goals quicker.
For further information about the latest clinical instruments from KayPENTAX for speech pathologists, ENTs, and phoniatricians, contact KayPENTAX at (973) 628-6200, fax: (973) 628-6363, or visit www.kaypentax.com.
 

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.

Watts, Christopher, Kathryn Barnes-Burroughs, Julie Estis, and Debra Blanton. “The Singing Power Ratio as an Objective Measure of Singing Voice Quality in Untrained Talented and Nontalented Singers,” Journal of Voice, Vol. 20 No. 1, pp. 82-88, March 2006.

Bielamowicz, Steven and Sheila V. Stager. “Diagnosis of Unilateral Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Paralysis: Laryngeal Electromyography, Subjective Rating Scales, Acoustic and Aerodynamic Measures,” Laryngoscope, Vol. 116, pp. 359-364, March 2006.

Lim, Marilyn, Emily Lin, and Philip Bones. “Vowel Effect on Glottal Parameters and the Magnitude of Jaw Opening,” Journal of Voice, Vol. 20 No. 1, pp. 46-54, March 2006.

Altenberg, Evelyn P. and Carole T. Ferrand. “Fundamental Frequency in Monolingual English, Bilingual English/ Russian, and Bilingual English/Cantonese Young Adult Women,” Journal of Voice, Vol. 20 No. 1, pp. 89-96, March 2006.

Trask, Douglas K., D. Luke Shellenberger, and Henry T. Hoffman. “Transnasal, Endoscopic Vocal Fold Augmentation,” Laryngoscope, Vol. 115, pp. 2262-2265, December 2005.

Sasaki, Clarence T., Steven B. Leder, Lynn M. Acton, and Steffen Maune. “Comparison of the Glottic Closure Reflex in Traditional ‘Open’ Versus Endoscopic Laser Supraglottic Laryngectomy,” Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology, Vol. 115 (2), pp. 93-96, February 2006. 

Jiang, Jack J., Yu Zhang, and Clancy McGilligan. “Chaos in Voice, From Modeling to Measurement,” Journal of Voice, Vol. 20 No. 1, pp. 2-17, March 2006.

Golub, Justin S. and Michael M. Johns III. “Esophageal Candidiasis,” ENT Journal, Volume 84, Number 12, p. 765, December 2005.

Milstein, Claudio F., Samer Charbel, Douglas M. Hicks, Tom I. Abelson, Joel E. Richter, and Michael F. Vaezi. “Prevalence of Laryngeal Irritation Signs Associated with Reflux in Asymptomatic Volunteers: Impact of Endoscopic Technique (Rigid vs. Flexible Laryngoscope),” Laryngoscope, Vol. 115, pp. 2256-2261, December 2005.

Pribuisiene, Ruta, Virgilijus Uloza, Limas Kupcinskas, and Laimas Jonaitis. “Perceptual and Acoustic Characteristics of Voice Changes in Reflux Laryngitis Patients,” Journal of Voice, Vol. 20 No. 1, pp. 128-136, March 2006.

Otto, Kristen J., Edie R. Hapner, Michael Baker, and Michael M. Johns III. “Blinded Evaluation of the Effects of High Definition and Magnification on Perceived Image Quality in Laryngeal Imaging,” Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology, Vol. 115 (2), pp. 110-113, February 2006.

Donzelli, Joseph, Susan Brady, Michele Wesling, and Melissa Theisen. “Effects of the Removal of the Tracheotomy Tube on Swallowing During the Fiberoptic Endoscopic Exam of the Swallow,” Dysphagia, Vol. 20, Number 4, pp. 283-289, Fall 2005.

Simberg, Susanna, Eeva Sala, Jyrki Tuomainen, Jaana Sellman, and Anna-Maija Rönnemaa. “The Effectiveness of Group Therapy for Students with Mild Voice Disorders: A Controlled Clinical Trial,” Journal of Voice, Vol. 20 No. 1, pp. 97-109, March 2006.

Crary, Michael A., Giselle D. Carnaby (Mann), and Michael E. Groher. “Biomedical Correlates of Surface Electromyography Signals Obtained During Swallowing by Healthy Adults” JSLHR, Vol. 49 No. 1, pp. 186-193, February 2006.

Gallivan, Gregory J. and Claudia M. Eitnier. “Vocal Fold Polyp in a Professional Brass/Wind Instrumentalist and Singer,” Journal of Voice, Vol. 20 No. 1, pp. 157-164, March 2006.

 

Our Customers Ask…

Q. I was informed that my Visi-Pitch would not run on my new computer that uses Windows XP. What operating systems is the Visi-Pitch compatible with?

A. It depends on the model Visi-Pitch that you own. The Visi-Pitch IV (current model the past few years) will run in PCs with either Windows 2000 or Windows XP. The earlier generation Visi-Pitch II and Visi-Pitch III models are compatible with Windows 98, but will not run on PCs with either Windows 2000 or XP.
If you are migrating a Visi-Pitch IV to a new computer running XP with service pack 2, you may need a new “hasp” (security key) driver. This driver is available from KayPENTAX at no charge. In addition, remember to remove the interface card from the old computer and install in the new computer.


Q. Can I use your new phonatory airflow device in the same PC as the CSL 4500?

A. Yes, the recently released Phonatory Aerodynamic System (PAS) can reside in the same computer as the CSL 4500. In this configuration, the two systems share the same interface card in the host PC and a switchbox and cables are provided to enable you to easily switch between the two hardware platforms and software applications. You will also receive a discount on the PAS system if this is specified when you order. Consult the factory if you plan to use this configuration so that the proper components and the discount are provided. The PAS 6600 is also compatible with other current hardware models CSL 4150 and Visi-Pitch IV 3950, but these platforms do not share an interface card with PAS. When using our new PENTAX chip-tip videoscope with our Kay stroboscopy system, we have noticed the intermittent presence of blank fields during the strobe procedure. Can this be fixed?

More than likely you are a missing a BNC cable that needs to be connected between the EPK video processor (Video Out on the back) to a connector labeled “EXT SYNC” on your standard rigid endoscopic camera (which, in turn, is connected to the strobe unit). This cable assures that all cameras in the system are synchronized with each other, and with the strobing light source. Installing this cable will eliminate these blank fields.


Q. Do the Nasometer II normative data apply to both adults and children?

A. The data supplied in the operation manual of the Nasometer II were collected on normal adults. The standardized passages used for these norms include the Zoo passage, Rainbow passage, and Nasal sentences. In addition to these data, a separate set of norms for children is available based on the SNAP test (MacKay & Kummer, 1994, revised 2005), which contains normative data on a variety of simplified utterances (syllables, words, and sentences) that are appropriate for children, including those who are preliterate. The SNAP test and norms are available as a booklet from KayPENTAX or can be copied from our Web site (www.kaypentax.com) under the Nasometer II product section.

Digital Strobe Database Flexibility

The database fields delivered with your strobe system suffice as they are for many customers, and these can can be edited, as needed, to suit your clinic’s requirements. However, in addition to being able to modify the delivered database fields, there are two additional tabs (each with 24 fields) that can be incorporated into your database (e.g., if you wanted to add TNE or FEES tabs to your strobe database fields/dropdowns). These data would then appear in your exam reports.

To create a new tab (with new fields), close the Digital Strobe application. Use Windows Explorer and navigate to the C:\KDS\Utilities folder. Open the file titled KayDataBaseConfig.exe. In the dialog box, click in the first unused checkbox and type the desired label for the tab (e.g., TNE Examination). Next, click on the “Label Configuration” button, then click on the Exam Assessment Tab. A new page appears showing unused fields that will appear under the new tab within the strobe software. Click on fields (up to 24 per tab) and label them as desired. When finished, click Save.

To view the new tab and fields, open the strobe application and they will appear in your patient database. Under each of the labels, you can now make dropdown entries under each field for commonly used descriptors. You then have the option of including these new database entries in strobe examination reports.

Preconvention Workshop at ASHA 2006

KayPENTAX is pleased to announce its co-sponsorship of Laryngeal Imaging: Seeing is Believing, an ASHA preconvention workshop to be held Wednesday, November 15, 2006, at the Miami Beach Convention Center, in Miami Beach, Florida. This continuing education course (CEU, CME) for speech-language pathologists and otolaryngologists will cover recent advances in laryngeal imaging for voice disorders, with special emphasis on stroboscopy, kymography, and ultra high-speed imaging tools.
According to Robert McClurkin, KayPENTAX director of product management and marketing, “We have an ongoing commitment to providing continuing education in applications related to KayPENTAX products. This conference will bring together a distinguished faculty to share their usage of various laryngeal imaging technologies; it will be very informative and we are proud to co-sponsor it.”
Other sponsors of the course include Special Interest Division 3 (Voice and Voice Disorders) of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, along with several other companies.

The workshop faculty includes major presenters Diane Bless, Robert Hillman, and Katherine Kendall, who will discuss the science and development of laryngeal imaging tools and the roles of the laryngologist and speech pathologist in laryngeal imaging. Other faculty contributors are Janina Casper, Seth Dailey, Edie Hapner, Douglas Hicks, Donna Lundy, Barbara Messing, Claudio Milstein, Tim Murry, Rita Patel, Mary Sandage, and Chris Sapienza. Afternoon sessions will address problems, pitfalls, and guidance in laryngeal imaging techniques; integrating clinical research in laryngeal imaging; and reimbursement strategies and advocacy. Small breakout groups will provide mentored opportunities for interpreting and rating laryngeal images. The workshop concludes with a case-based panel presentation on clinical decision-making in laryngeal imaging.

The entire workshop will be held in a single ballroom, with exhibitor tables located at the perimeter, so that representatives may join the plenary sessions. Leslie Glaze, Division 3 Coordinator explained, “We envision a workshop where participants will have an opportunity to interact with our exhibitors throughout the day, not only at break times, but also during workshop sessions. As our partners in imaging tool research and development, the exhibitors provide technical expertise that improves our ability to apply laryngeal imaging to clinical problem solving.”

The workshop runs from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and registration includes coffee, box lunch, and breaks. For more information about the workshop, please contact the Course Director, Linda Carroll, Ph.D., at Grabscheid Voice Center, Mount Sinai Medical Center, by phone: (212) 241-8451, fax: (212) 828-4181, or e-mail: Linda.carroll@mountsinai.org. Registration begins in late July.

Calendar of Upcoming Events

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