Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 71, Issue 3 826-833, Copyright © 1991 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

A nonlinear viscoelastic model of lung tissue mechanics

B. Suki and J. H. Bates
Meakins-Christie Laboratories, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

There have been a number of attempts recently to use linear models to describe the low-frequency (0-2 Hz) dependence of lung tissue resistance (Rti) and elastance (Eti). Only a few attempts, however, have been made to account for the volume dependence of these quantities, all of which require the tissues to be plastoelastic. In this paper we specifically avoid invoking plastoelasticity and develop a nonlinear viscoelastic model that is also capable of accounting for the nonlinear and frequency-dependent features of lung tissue mechanics. The model parameters were identified by fitting the model to data obtained in a previous study from dogs during sinusoidal ventilation. The model was then used to simulate pressure and flow data by use of various types of ventilation patterns similar to those that have been employed experimentally. Rti and Eti were estimated from the simulated data by use of four different estimation techniques commonly applied in respiratory mechanics studies. We found that the estimated volume dependence of Rti and Eti is sensitive to both the ventilation pattern and the estimation technique, being in error by as much as 217 and 22%, respectively.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. H. T. Bates Point:Counterpoint: Lung impedance measurements are/are not more useful than simpler measurements of lung function in animal models of pulmonary disease J Appl Physiol, November 1, 2007; 103(5): 1900 - 1901. [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Nucci, M. Mergoni, C. Bricchi, G. Polese, C. Cobelli, and A. Rossi On-line monitoring of intrinsic PEEP in ventilator-dependent patients J Appl Physiol, September 1, 2000; 89(3): 985 - 995. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. B. Pandit, K. H. Pyon, S. E. Courtney, S. E. England, and R. H. Habib Lung resistance and elastance in spontaneously breathing preterm infants: effects of breathing pattern and demographics J Appl Physiol, March 1, 2000; 88(3): 997 - 1005. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Hirai, K. A. McKeown, R. F. M. Gomes, and J. H. T. Bates Effects of lung volume on lung and chest wall mechanics in rats J Appl Physiol, January 1, 1999; 86(1): 16 - 21. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. M. Officer, R. Pellegrino, V. Brusasco, and J. R. Rodarte Measurement of pulmonary resistance and dynamic compliance with airway obstruction J Appl Physiol, November 1, 1998; 85(5): 1982 - 1988. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. H. Liu, S. C. Niranjan, J. W. Clark Jr., K. Y. San, J. B. Zwischenberger, and A. Bidani Airway mechanics, gas exchange, and blood flow in a nonlinear model of the normal human lung J Appl Physiol, April 1, 1998; 84(4): 1447 - 1469. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. PETAK, M. J. HAYDEN, Z. HANTOS, and P. D. SLY Volume Dependence of Respiratory Impedance in Infants Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., October 1, 1997; 156(4): 1172 - 1177. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]