Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 28.3
Deformation of parenchyma model and distribution of airflow velocities for a given
prescribed inflow. Diagrams on the
right
visualize how air volumes split between the two outlets.
(
a
) Tissue parameters are homogeneous throughout the parenchyma model. (
b
) Young's modulus
of the
left half
of the parenchyma model is twice as large as the one of the
right half
.(
c
) Combi-
nation of volume-coupling and multi-scale approach enabling the determination of local alveolar
stresses and strains depending on the airflow in the associated airways
parenchyma, the developed models allow to simulate airflow in the airways and
coupled local alveolar deformation realistically for the first time.
Currently, we are working on simulating coupled airflow and parenchyma defor-
mation using CT-based instead of simplified geometries. In this case, however, the
number of subdivisions of the parenchyma model is limited since only few airway
generations can be resolved. To overcome this problem and enable more realistic
predictions of the distribution of gases and local deformations, we have recently
proposed an efficient reduced-dimensional model of the conducting region which
will be reviewed in the following section.
