Fast upper airway magnetic resonance imaging for assessment of speech production and sleep apnea

Abstract

The human upper airway is involved in various functions, including speech, swallowing, and respiration. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can visualize the motion of the upper airway and has been used in scientific studies to understand the dynamics of vocal tract shaping during speech and for assessment of upper airway abnormalities related to obstructive sleep apnea and swallowing disorders. Acceleration technologies in MRI are crucial in improving spatiotemporal resolution or spatial coverage. Recent trends in technical aspects of upper airway MRI are to develop state-of-the-art image acquisition methods for improved dynamic imaging of the upper airway and develop automatic image analysis methods for efficient and accurate quantification of upper airway parameters of interest. This review covers the fast upper airway magnetic resonance (MR) acquisition and reconstruction, MR experimental issues, image analysis techniques, and applications, mainly with respect to studies of speech production and sleep apnea.