IDENTIFICATION OF AIRWAY CHARACTERISTICS USING THE INPUT IMPEDANCE

  • Tung, V.X. (Biomedical Engineering Centre (BioMEC)Auckland University of Technology) ;
  • Jumaily, Al (Biomedical Engineering Centre (BioMEC)Auckland University of Technology) ;
  • Cheng, S.H. (School of Mechanical Engineering Kumoh National Institute of Technology) ;
  • Ro, S.H. (School of Mechanical Engineering Kumoh National Institute of Technology)
  • Published : 2007.05.30

Abstract

In an attempt to determine the correlations between the input acoustic impedance and the variations of the physical characteristics of the terminal elements, a five-lobe branched tube-network is mathematically developed and experimentally simulated using a lung simulator. The model takes into account some realistic conditions such as varying cross-sectional areas, flexible wall properties and branching. The effects of airway constrictions expressed by lobe stiffness variations on the impedance are determined for a range of frequencies up to 256 Hz. It is concluded that the developed model is capable of non-invasively predicting various physiological changes in the airway passages.

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