Models for the Respiratory System Using Morphology-Based Electrical Analogy

Abstract

This paper attempts to simulate changes in the mechanical properties of lungs through their equivalent changes in the human respiratory input impedance. The theory of electrical transmission lines and ladder networks is used to develop an equivalent model of the respiratory system. Three typical cases are investigated: healthy, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Simulation results are tested on different types of ladder network cells, such as RC, RLC and various simulating conditions of the whole system. Our conclusion is that an RLC cell gives results which are comparable to real measurements from healthy, asthma, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease subjects and changes in the morphology.