This project has been supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG), grant no. BI 1639/9-1.

1. Design of the vocal fold models and 3D printing of parts
<ol>
	<li>Create a multi-layered representation of the common M5 geometry of silicone vocal folds using various soft silicone materials. Design the individual parts using computer-aided design (CAD) software. Check the Supplementary Coding File 1, Supplementary Coding File 2, Supplementary Coding File 3, Supplementary Coding File 4, Supplementary Coding File 5, Supplementary Coding File 6, Supplementary Coding File 7, Supplementary Coding File 8 for details. The files are named according to their function in the model and serve as the foundation for the subsequent steps.</li>
	<li>Compile and organize the necessary files for each step in step 2. Refer to the list of required parts and their quantities in Supplementary Figure 1. See a schematic depiction of mold assembly in Supplementary Figure 2.</li>
	<li>Load the STL files into a 3D printing program to generate G-code files that can be read by the 3D printer.</li>
	<li>Prepare the materials (see Table of Materials) for the 3D print.
	<ol>
		<li>For Supplementary Coding File 2 and Supplementary Coding File 5, use a material that causes less visible layer lines, such as polylactic acid (PLA+) or PC.</li>
		<li>For Supplementary Coding File 1, use a harder material such as Tough PLA or Polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) due to its susceptibility to bending stresses. No further restrictions on the choice of printing material apply to the remaining parts.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Adjust the settings of the 3D printing software for the corresponding selected 3D printer.
	<ol>
		<li>For Supplementary Coding File 2 and Supplementary Coding File 5, set a maximum layer height of 0.1 mm.</li>
		<li>For Supplementary Coding File 1, set the infill value to 100% and the print pattern to ZigZag to achieve better stability. Also, set the build plate adhesion category to Skirt instead of Brim, because the geometry of the parts would make it considerably more difficult to remove the brim.</li>
		<li>For the other parts, use the default settings and layer heights of 0.2 mm.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Print the mentioned parts on the 3D printer. Clean the parts and remove any excess material such as brim or printing errors. Smooth the inner contact surfaces with sandpaper (equal or finer than P1000 recommended).</li>
</ol>
2. Fabrication of the vocal fold models
<ol>
	<li>Gather the following parts and materials for creating the body layer: vocal-fold-positiv (2x), vocalis_mold-cap, vocalis_mold-main-part, vocalis_mold-hull, primary silicone, release agent, and thinner (See Table of Materials for details).
	<ol>
		<li>Apply some release agent to the inside surfaces of all the mold parts.</li>
		<li>Assemble the main part and cap of the mold over the positive and place the mold package in the designated pot. Correct the alignment of the two mold parts if necessary. Ensure the hole in the positive for pouring the silicone faces upwards, and the mold has a stable footing on a flat surface.</li>
		<li>Create a mixture of the primary silicone with three parts of thinner (1:1:3), begin by combining component A with the thinner, and subsequently adding component B. Thoroughly mix the components. A total amount of 6 g of silicone mixture is sufficient for casting the body layer from two vocal fold halves.</li>
		<li>Vacuum the silicone mixture in a vacuum chamber at a minimum of -1 bar sub pressure to prevent air bubbles from forming in the cured silicone body.</li>
		<li>Carefully pour the vacuumed silicone mixture into the mold cavity until it appears filled. Fill the surrounding areas of the mold pot to prevent the very thin silicone mixture from sinking through the mold joints. Check the silicone level during the dripping time and add more if necessary. The drip time for this mixture is between 1-2 h.</li>
		<li>After a curing time of about 1 day, but at least 8 h, remove the mold, including the positive, from the pot. Remove the silicone between the mold and the pot before opening the mold.</li>
		<li>When opening the mold, first carefully remove the lid starting from the back of the positive. Then, remove the main body of the mold. Carefully remove any excess silicone using a scalpel or a side cutter.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Prepare the musosa_mold-back, musosa_mold-main-part, and musosa_mold-hull parts, as well as the secondary silicone and release agent for the production of the epithelium layer. (See Table of Materials). 
	NOTE: Steps 2.1 and 2.2 (body and epithelium layer) can be completed simultaneously.
	<ol>
		<li>Assemble the two mold parts and place them in the hull. Prepare the inside of the mold with some release agent, ensuring that the inner walls are coated according to the usage instructions of the respective release agent. Allow the component to air-dry briefly before proceeding.</li>
		<li>Mix a batch of the secondary silicone without using thinner (1:1:0). If air bubbles have been introduced into the silicone mixture while mixing, degas the mixture as in step 2.1.4. 
		NOTE: Be aware of the short drip time of this mixture, which is about 15 min.</li>
		<li>Pour some of the mixture into the mold and swirl it around (leaving the mold in the hull) until all interior surfaces are coated with silicone.</li>
		<li>Turn the mold over and let excess silicone drain out. Secure the mold in this position over a mesh, grate, or at an angle that allows further silicone drainage.</li>
		<li>Prevent the formation of overhangs in the silicone during the curing process by regularly smoothing it out, especially in the area where the air channel will be located. 
		NOTE: These can also be carefully removed later with pliers.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Prepare for the production of the mucosa intermediate layer by preparing the positive with the vocalis silicone layer from step 2.1, the mold prepared with the epithelium layer from step 2.2, and the silicone and thinner as listed in Table of Materials.
	<ol>
		<li>Create a mixture of the primary silicone with five parts of thinner (1:1:5), begin by combining component A with the thinner, and subsequently adding component B. Thoroughly mix the components. A total amount of 4 g of silicone mixture is sufficient.</li>
		<li>Vacuum the silicone mixture in a vacuum chamber as in step 2.1.4.</li>
		<li>Fill a portion of the silicone mixture into the mucosa mold with the prepared epithelial silicone. Tilt the mold until all interior surfaces of the epithelial silicone are covered with a thin layer of oil to facilitate insertion of the positive. 
		NOTE: Optional: Due to the high proportion of diluent, the mixture has a long drip time of several hours during which the mixture can shrink through evaporation. Therefore, wait about 2-3 h before proceeding with the next steps.</li>
		<li>Carefully insert the positive with the vocal body into the mold. Secure the positive in the mold, for example with a clamp, if the positive floats up on the silicone. Depending on the amount of silicone previously added, it may escape at the filling points.</li>
		<li>Fill the mold in the same way as for the casting of the vocalis layer and top up accordingly if the material sinks.</li>
		<li>Wait 24 h after the drip time has ended for the silicone to completely cure.</li>
		<li>After 24 h, remove the body from the mold. First, remove the mold from the shell. Then, starting with the rear section, open the mold and remove the main part of the mold as well.</li>
		<li>Carefully remove any excess silicone, wash the surface and let the body dry.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Mount the two vocal fold halves at the designated locations on the measurement and assembly module in Supplementary Coding File 8. The connection was designed for two M3 screws and M3 square nuts (DIN 562), but they are not mandatory.</li>
</ol>

3D Printing of Multilayered Silicone Vocal Fold Models

<ol>
	<li>Drechsel, J. S., Thomson, S. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Influence+of+supraglottal+structures+on+the+glottal+jet+exiting+a+two-layer+synthetic,+self-oscillating+vocal+fold+model.">Influence of supraglottal structures on the glottal jet exiting a two-layer synthetic, self-oscillating vocal fold model.</a> J Acoust Soc Am. 123 (6), 4434-4445 (2008).</li><li>Stevens, K. A., Shimamura, R., Imagawa, H., Sakakibara, K. I., Tokuda, I. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Validating+Stereo-endoscopy+with+a+synthetic+vocal+fold+model.">Validating Stereo-endoscopy with a synthetic vocal fold model.</a> Acta Acustica United with Acustica. 102 (4), 745-751 (2016).</li><li>Murray, P. R., Thomson, S. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Synthetic,+multi-layer,+self-oscillating+vocal+fold+model+fabrication.">Synthetic, multi-layer, self-oscillating vocal fold model fabrication.</a> J Vis Exp. (58), e3498 (2011).</li><li>Spencer, M., Siegmund, T., Mongeau, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Determination+of+superior+surface+strains+and+stresses,+and+vocal+fold+contact+pressure+in+a+synthetic+larynx+model+using+digital+image+correlation.">Determination of superior surface strains and stresses, and vocal fold contact pressure in a synthetic larynx model using digital image correlation.</a> J Acoust Soc Am. 123 (2), 1089-1103 (2008).</li><li>Scherer, R. C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intraglottal+pressure+profiles+for+a+symmetric+and+oblique+glottis+with+a+divergence+angle+of+10+degrees.">Intraglottal pressure profiles for a symmetric and oblique glottis with a divergence angle of 10 degrees.</a> J Acoust Soc Am. 109 (4), 1616-1630 (2001).</li><li>Zhang, Z. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mechanics+of+human+voice+production+and+control.">Mechanics of human voice production and control.</a> J Acoust Soc Am. 140 (4), 2614-2635 (2016).</li><li>Birkholz, P., Wang, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Studientexte zur Sprachkommunikation: Elektronische Sprachsignalverarbeitung. , 58-66 (2017).</li><li>Murray, P. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Flow-induced responses of normal, bowed, and augmented synthetic vocal fold models. , (2011).</li><li>Alipour, F., Vigmostad, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Measurement+of+vocal+folds+elastic+properties+for+continuum+modeling.">Measurement of vocal folds elastic properties for continuum modeling.</a> J Voice. 26 (6), e21-29 (2012).</li><li>Chhetri, D. K., Zhang, Z., Neubauer, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Measurement+of+young's+modulus+of+vocal+folds+by+indentation.">Measurement of young's modulus of vocal folds by indentation.</a> J Voice. 25 (1), 1-7 (2011).</li><li>H&#228;sner, P., Birkholz, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Reproducibility+and+aging+of+different+silicone+vocal+folds+models.">Reproducibility and aging of different silicone vocal folds models.</a> J Voice. , (2023).</li><li>Gabriel, F., H&#228;sner, P., Dohmen, E., Borin, D., Birkholz, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Studientexte zur Sprachkommunikation: Elektronische Sprachsignalverarbeitung. , 221-230 (2019).</li><li>H&#228;sner, P., Prescher, A., Birkholz, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effect+of+wavy+trachea+walls+on+the+oscillation+onset+pressure+of+silicone+vocal+folds.">Effect of wavy trachea walls on the oscillation onset pressure of silicone vocal folds.</a> J Acoust Soc Am. 149 (1), 466-475 (2021).</li><li>Birkholz, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Studientexte zur Sprachkommunikation: Elektronische Sprachsignalverarbeitung. , (2016).</li><li>Boersma, P., Weenink, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Praat,+a+system+for+doing+phonetics+by+computer.">Praat, a system for doing phonetics by computer.</a> Glot. Int. 5, 341-345 (2001).</li><li>Fukui, K., Shintaku, E., Honda, M., Takanishi, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mechanical+vocal+cord+model+for+anthropomorphic+talking+robot+based+on+human+biomechanical+structure.">Mechanical vocal cord model for anthropomorphic talking robot based on human biomechanical structure.</a> Trans Japan Soc Mech Eng Ser C. 73 (734), 2750-2756 (2007).</li><li>Syndergaard, K. L., Dushku, S., Thomson, S. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Electrically+conductive+synthetic+vocal+fold+replicas+for+voice+production+research.">Electrically conductive synthetic vocal fold replicas for voice production research.</a> J Acoust Soc Am. 142 (1), 63 (2017).</li></ol>

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

The manufacturing process presented here involves critical steps that significantly impact its success. Firstly, it should be noted that the presented manufacturing process does not solve the problem of oil saturation in the vocal fold body material but rather circumvents certain negative side effects. The outgassing and the associated shrinkage and surface waviness still persist, albeit to a lesser extent. A solution to these problems would involve the use of an ultra-soft silicone or alternative material that combines ...

Vocal fold models are used to simulate and investigate human voice production under normal and pathological conditions1,2. One of the biggest challenges in creating vocal fold models is to achieve a realistic softness and flexibility that closely approximates those of humans. To achieve these properties, silicone elastomers are often used, which are diluted with high amounts of silicone oil to achieve the corresponding elasticity moduli3,4. Another crucial factor in creating realistic vocal fold models is layering, as vocal folds consist of multiple layers of varying softness, which determine the pattern of flow-induced vibration and the frequency at which vibration is possible.
In this study, we created a typical vocal fold model. We used the common geometry provided by Scherer5, which represents typical dimensions for male vocal folds with 17 mm length according to Zhang6 and consists of three layers: one layer for the vocalis muscle (body layer), one for the entire mucosal layer (cover layer), and one for the epithelium. This structure can be seen in the coronal cross-section view in Figure 1.
<img alt="Figure 1" class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/66222/66222fig01v2.jpg" /> 
Figure 1: Coronal cross-section of the larynx modules. Coronal cross-section of the larynx modules illustrating the widest width of the vocal folds (8.5 mm). Each vocal fold comprises a body layer, a cover layer, and an epithelium layer. This figure has been modified from13. Reproduced from H&#228;sner, P., Prescher, A., Birkholz, P. Effect of wavy trachea walls on the oscillation onset pressure of silicone vocal folds. J Acoust Soc Am.149 (1), 466-475 (2021) with the permission of the Acoustical Society of America. <a href="https://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/66222/66222fig01large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
Other publications use partially only one layer7, two layers without epithelium layer2 or model the mucosa with multiple layers3. Usually, the layers are cast from the inside out, i.e., starting with the deepest layer. The epithelium, which is very thin with 30 &#181;m thickness, is cast at the end over the entire body to envelop it with a sturdy skin8.
The cover layer in the model is the softest part, with Young&#39;s modulus of about 1.1 kPa9. For the body layer, the approximate Young&#39;s modulus in the transverse direction using in vitro measurements10 is 2 kPa. In vivo, the Young&#39;s modulus of the thyroarytenoid muscle may be higher due to the presence of fibers in the longitudinal direction as well as the possible tensing of the muscle. To achieve this extremely low Young&#39;s modulus, it is necessary to add a high amount of silicone oil to the silicone mixture (approximately 72%). However, the manufacturer strongly advises against using an oil proportion greater than 5%. In general, the addition of silicone oil to the elastomer is intended to increase flow and drip time, as well as reduce the shrinkage of the cured silicone polymer. It helps the silicone to cure more uniformly, thereby reducing stress in the material. Its purpose is to optimize the moldability and properties of the cured material, rather than to increase its softness, although this is also a consequence. This is because silicone oil is chemically inert, meaning that it cannot polymerize itself and is not integrated into the network of the silicone polymer11. Instead, it remains as a liquid phase in the polymer matrix, weakening the polymer structure at higher levels and potentially causing it to dissolve out of the cured material and adhere to the surface. As a result, other negative properties such as curing disorders, uneven vulcanization, chemical shrinkage, and brittleness are possible. Vocal fold models with high silicone oil contents were investigated with regard to aging and reproducibility, and it was found that there is a high variability in the properties of different models and a change in their properties over time11.
When producing vocal fold models in the conventional way7,12, the stickiness of the epithelial layer can be a problem as it can affect the homogeneity of vibration and lead to rupture of the epithelium. Although the silicone used to make the epithelium is undiluted, it can be assumed that the oil that leaks from the neighboring mucosa layer has similar effects on the silicone as if it had been diluted. The problem of stickiness was addressed by adding various powders such as talcum or carbon powder as an intermediate layer between the mucosa and the epithelial layer12. This approach may have been successful because the oil was partially absorbed by the powder and, as a result, the stickiness of the epithelial surface could be reduced.
In this publication, we show that the problem of stickiness can be circumvented by a slight modification of the process of vocal fold manufacturing. By changing the order of layering and starting with the undiluted epithelial silicone (so-called closed silicone), non-sticky super-soft vocal fold models can be produced. This change involves unusual types of molds and methods that are best presented and explained in the form of a video. In this paper, we describe our manufacturing process in detail and demonstrate how the properties of the vocal fold models can be characterized in an application.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>3D Printer</td>
			<td>ULTIMAKER</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Type S5</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>3D Printing software</td>
			<td>ULTIMAKER CURA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Version 5.2.2</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CAD Software</td>
			<td>Autodesk Inventor&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Version 2023</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>High Speed Camera</td>
			<td>XIMEA GmbH</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>MQ013CG-ON</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PLA+ 3D Printer Material&#160;</td>
			<td>eSun</td>
			<td>none</td>
			<td>white</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Primary silicone</td>
			<td>KauPo Plankenhorn</td>
			<td>09301-005-000041</td>
			<td>EcoFlex 00-30</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Release Agent</td>
			<td>KauPo Plankenhorn</td>
			<td>09291-006-000001</td>
			<td>UTS Universal</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Secondary silicone</td>
			<td>KauPo Plankenhorn</td>
			<td>09301-005-000181</td>
			<td>DragonSkin NV10</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Silicone Thinner</td>
			<td>KauPo Plankenhorn</td>
			<td>09301-010-000002</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tougth PLA 3D Printer Material&#160;</td>
			<td>BASF</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>black</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

manufacturing process for non-adhesive super-soft vocal fold models

This study aims to develop super-soft, non-sticky vocal fold models for voice research. The conventional manufacturing process of silicone-based vocal fold models results in models with undesirable properties, such as stickiness and reproducibility issues. Those vocal fold models are prone to rapid aging, leading to poor comparability across different measurements. In this study, we propose a modification to the manufacturing process by changing the order of layering the silicone material, which leads to the production of non-sticky and highly consistent vocal fold models. We also compare a model produced using this method with a conventionally manufactured vocal fold model that is adversely affected by its sticky surface. We detail the manufacturing process and characterize the properties of the models for potential applications. The outcomes of the study demonstrate the efficacy of the modified fabrication method, highlighting the superior qualities of our non-sticky vocal fold models.&#160;The findings contribute to the development of realistic and reliable vocal fold models for research and clinical applications.

Author Spotlight: Advancements in the Fabrication of Synthetic Vocal Fold Models for Phonetic and Robotic Applications

Manufacturing Process for Non-Adhesive Super-Soft Vocal Fold Models

Our research aims at improving the manufacturing process of synthetic vocal folds. Such models can be used in basic phonetic and voice research, in medical research, and to create models of the human vocal tract that produce speech like human beings. Synthetic vocal fold models are usually made of multiple layers of soft silicone with different degrees of softness.They correspond to the properties of human vocal fold tissue. The technologies used to make these models include computer-aided design, 3D printing, and silicone casting. Highly diluted silicone vocal fold models have reduced quality due to stickiness and rapid aging.This decreases the reproducibility of research using these models. This protocol addresses the issue of vocal fold stickiness. We have reversed the order of producing the silicone layers in our fabrication process.We started with the epithelium layer. This allowed us to create a very soft mucosal layer from diluted silicone without causing the epithelium layer to become sticky.

The fabricated vocal fold model was integrated into the measurement setup depicted in Supplementary Figure 3 at the vocal folds position. The setup, extensively detailed in a previous publication13, comprises a multi-stage controllable airflow source that stimulates the vocal fold models into oscillation, along with an array of measuring instruments that record data such as sound pressure, static pressure at specific positions, and volume velocity. For the measurements, the airflo...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Manufacturing Process for Non-Adhesive Super-Soft Vocal Fold Models at JoVE.com

This study demonstrates the manufacturing of non-sticky and super-soft vocal fold models by introducing a specific way to create the vocal fold layers, providing a detailed description of the manufacturing procedure, and characterizing the properties of the models.

This study aims to develop super-soft, non-sticky vocal fold models for voice research. The conventional manufacturing process of silicone-based vocal ...

manufacturing-process-for-non-adhesive-super-soft-vocal-fold-models

Research

JoVE Journal

Engineering

3D Printing and Design of Multi-Layered Silicone Vocal Fold Models

Fabrication of Multi-Layered Silicone Vocal Fold Models

438 Views.  Technische Universität Dresden.  This study demonstrates the manufacturing of non-sticky and super-soft vocal fold models by introducing a specific way to create the vocal fold layers, providing a detailed description of the manufacturing procedure, and characterizing the properties of the models.

3D Printing of Multilayered Silicone Vocal Fold Models

Summary