Assessment of Physiological Parameters Influencing Oxygenation of Vocal Fold Tissue

Phonation results from fluid-structure interactions (FSI) between the glottal airflow and the poroelastic tissue of the vocal folds (VFs). In our previous research, a poroelastic FSI model was developed to study the interstitial fluid flow dynamics in vibrating VFs and local changes in perfusion within the tissue, which are commonly associated with voice disorders such as vocal fatigue and dehydration. In this research, we aim to combine porous VFs with a mass transport model to investigate the association of blood flow with oxygen supply that corresponds with dysfunctions like hypoxia. A multiphysics computational framework by considering unsteady Navier-Stokes equations for airflow, Brinkman equation for porous VFs, and advection-diffusion-reaction equation for oxygen flow is developed. Previous experimental observations report contradictory relationships regarding VF oxygen transport and suggest that other physiological conditions, such as reaction rate, subglottal lung pressure, and permeability, may influence VF oxygenation. To evaluate the potential influences, simulations by variation of these parameters are performed and the filtration velocity and oxygen concentration are measured and compared. The outcomes highlight the importance of poroelasticity in phonation models.