Functional Electrical Stimulation of the Feline Larynx With a Flexible Ribbon Electrode Array

Success of laryngeal reanimation through neurorrhaphy has been limited by synkinesis and preoperative muscle atrophy. The objective of this study was to investigate the use of epimysial electrode arrays as a means of delivering electrical stimulation to the posterior cricoarytenoid muscles in order to control laryngeal abduction.

Ribbon electrode arrays with 4 or 8 electrode contacts were used. Four cats underwent implantation of electrode arrays along the surface of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscles. The glottis was visualized with a 0° telescope while electrodes were stimulated at different amplitudes and pulse-width durations. Recordings of stimulated vocal folds were analyzed, and the degree of vocal fold abduction was measured in order to create recruitment curves for the left and right posterior cricoarytenoid. Recruitment curves from electrode channels within the array were compared.

Electrodes oriented along the medial aspect of the posterior cricoarytenoid stimulated graded physiologic degrees of abduction depending on the amplitude of stimulation. Electrodes oriented laterally along the posterior cricoarytenoid stimulated greater degrees of simultaneous adduction with abduction.

Acute studies of ribbon surface electrode arrays placed onto the posterior cricoarytenoid reproduce graded degrees of abduction necessary for the precise function of respiration and speech.