Week 7: Progress On The Larynx
April 21, 2023
Hello everyone! Welcome back to my blog.
Introduction:
First of all, there will be no real model this week. I have mostly been reading articles and talking with my mentor. However, we have decided how to proceed with the laryngeal pediatric simulator. We decided on modeling a papilloma, a sort of benign cancer caused by viruses such as HPV. In particular, this papilloma will grow on the vocal cords, where it usually is removed via surgery.
Modeling of the Vocal Cord:
I have attached a photo of the current model in the Solid Edge application. Essentially, the papilloma will be modeled as a small lump on the flat side of the vocal cord. Next week, I will create an inverse mold and cast the model with silicone. Hopefully, the papilloma will be the same texture as the vocal cord, since papillomas consist of epithelial cells. This would be similar to how papillomas exist on the larynx, and could serve a viable tool for practice surgeries.
Modeling of the Larynx:
The length and width of the larynx is coming together, but I still have work to do on the shape of the actual lumen. You can faintly make out the grooved in the middle of the larynx. These are where the vocal folds can be inserted, so that the larynx is reusable after a surgery removing the papilloma. Next week, I hope to make the larynx shape more realistic, as well as separate the two halves with pegs to match the halves.
Stay tuned for next week’s update!
Derrick Liu
Sources:
Saraniti, Carmelo et al. “NBI and Laryngeal Papillomatosis: A Diagnostic Challenge: A Systematic Review.” International journal of environmental research and public health vol. 19,14 8716. 18 Jul. 2022, doi:10.3390/ijerph19148716
Gale, N., Ferluga, D., Poljak, M. et al. Laryngeal papillomatosis: molecular, histopathological, and clinical evaluation. Vichows Archiv A Pathol Anat 425, 291–295 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00196152
Saliba, Thiago Victal, and Rui Sérgio Monteiro de Barros. “Development and validation of a 3D laryngeal model in surgical skills training.” Brazilian journal of otorhinolaryngology vol. 89,1 (2023): 128-135. doi:10.1016/j.bjorl.2021.09.010