Sound transmission through normal and diseased human lungs

Author

Leung, A.H. ; Sehati, S.

Author_Institution

Sch. of Eng., Oxford Brookes Univ., UK

Volume

5

Issue

1

fYear

1996

fDate

2/1/1996 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

25

Lastpage

31

Abstract

A system for monitoring sound transmission through the human lung is described and the possibility of using this information in order to construct a functional map of the lung is investigated. Lung morphology (structure) may be monitored by using X-rays or computerised axial tomography (CAT). However, the size, cost and the possible adverse effects of high doses of X-rays make these techniques unsuitable for routine use. The speed of sound transmission through parenchyma (lung tissue) is a function of the size of the alveoli (air sacs). Therefore, by measuring the speed of sound through the lungs it may be possible to detect areas of collapsed alveoli. This would provide a simple, cheap, and non-invasive technique for monitoring certain lung abnormalities

Keywords

acoustic wave velocity measurement; bioacoustics; biomedical measurement; lung; patient diagnosis; patient monitoring; alveoli size; collapsed alveoli areas detection; diseased human lungs; lung abnormalities monitoring; lung functional map; lung morphology; normal human lungs; parenchyma; simple cheap noninvasive technique; sound transmission monitoring system;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Engineering Science and Education Journal

Publisher

iet

ISSN

0963-7346

Type

jour

DOI

10.1049/esej:19960107

Filename

490406