A Fast Semiautomatic Algorithm for Centerline-Based Vocal Tract Segmentation

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Anton A Poznyakovskiy - , Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (Author)
  • Alexander Mainka - , Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Carl Maria von WeberCollege of Music, Dresden (Author)
  • Ivan Platzek - , Institute and Polyclinic of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology (Author)
  • Dirk Mürbe - , Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Carl Maria von WeberCollege of Music, Dresden (Author)

Abstract

Vocal tract morphology is an important factor in voice production. Its analysis has potential implications for educational matters as well as medical issues like voice therapy. The knowledge of the complex adjustments in the spatial geometry of the vocal tract during phonation is still limited. For a major part, this is due to difficulties in acquiring geometry data of the vocal tract in the process of voice production. In this study, a centerline-based segmentation method using active contours was introduced to extract the geometry data of the vocal tract obtained with MRI during sustained vowel phonation. The applied semiautomatic algorithm was found to be time- and interaction-efficient and allowed performing various three-dimensional measurements on the resulting model. The method is suitable for an improved detailed analysis of the vocal tract morphology during speech or singing which might give some insights into the underlying mechanical processes.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number906356
JournalBioMed research international
Volume2015
Publication statusPublished - 2015
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMedCentral PMC4628707
Scopus 84947104537

Keywords

Keywords

  • Adult, Algorithms, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods, Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods, Male, Vocal Cords/anatomy & histology