Finite element simulation of lung parenchyma deformation based on porcine data.

Accurate modeling of lung parenchymal biomechanics is critical for understanding respiratory function and improving diagnoses. Traditional hyperelastic models capture tissue deformation but miss essential physiological interactions. This study evaluates an experimentally informed poroelastic model (Birzle's formulation) against hyperelastic-only models within a finite element framework.

Forward Computational Modeling of Respiratory Airflow.

The simulation of gas flow in the bronchial tree using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has become a useful tool for the analysis of gas flow mechanics, structural deformation, ventilation, and particle deposition for drug delivery during spontaneous and assisted breathing. CFD allows for new hypotheses to be tested , and detailed results generated without performing expensive experimental procedures that could be potentially harmful to patients. Such computational techniques are also useful for analyzing structure-function relationships in healthy and diseased lungs, assessing regional ventilation at various time points over the course of clinical treatment, or elucidating the changes in airflow patterns over the life span.

Simulation of Central Airway Gas Flow Dynamics During Conventional and Multifrequency Ventilation.

Patients with acute respiratory failure often require supportive mechanical ventilation to maintain adequate gas exchange. Recent studies have shown that multifrequency ventilation (MFV), the technique of presenting multiple simultaneous frequencies in flow or pressure at the airway opening, may provide more uniform ventilation distribution and parenchymal strain throughout the mechanically heterogeneous lung. In this study, we simulated gas flow within a porcine central airway tree, from the trachea to the fifth generation, with dynamic boundary conditions (BCs) during volume-controlled conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) cycled at 0.

Structural and functional characteristics of healthy and injured porcine lungs during deflation: a quantitative CT imaging analysis.

The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by pathologic and heterogeneous alterations in the mechanical properties of lung tissue. Although several techniques exist that allow for assessment of global lung mechanics in health and disease, few techniques allow for quantitative assessment of regional mechanics, which is important for understanding the impact of therapeutic interventions on local structure-function relationships. X-ray computed tomography (CT) is a widely available imaging modality for assessment of regional lung structure, given its high spatial resolution, as well as its ability to provide detailed information on regional anatomic and pathologic features.

A Parametric Analysis of Capillary Height in Single-Layer, Small-Scale Microfluidic Artificial Lungs.

Microfluidic artificial lungs (μALs) are being investigated for their ability to closely mimic the size scale and cellular environment of natural lungs. Researchers have developed μALs with small artificial capillary diameters (10-50 µm; to increase gas exchange efficiency) and with large capillary diameters (~100 µm; to simplify design and construction). However, no study has directly investigated the impact of capillary height on μAL properties.