Date of Award

Summer 1968

Document Type

Thesis - Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biomedical Engineering

First Advisor

Horgan, James D.

Second Advisor

Lange, R. L.

Abstract

In recent years there has been a rapid expansion of the field known as biomedical engineering. In this field, engineers and medical researchers have applied their problem solving ability to problems involving living systems and materials. One branch of this field is the area of simulation of biological systems. Since, in many aspects, living and non-living materials obey the same basic laws of physics and chemistry, the techniques and tools used in analyzing linear and non-linear non-living systems can be used to investigate and model various physiological systems. These simulations tend to consolidate the results of physiological investigations and indicate areas in which further investigation will strengthen and increase the knowledge and understanding of the action of the human body. One system which has been investigated and modeled with varying degrees of success is the human respiratory system.I1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 18, 19). Models which simulate this system under various conditions such as carbon dioxide inhalation (1, 2. 5) and hyperventilation (3, 4, 19) have been developed and studied. Since these models were concerned with long time effects, any variations introduced by individual breaths were assumed negligible. The lung was considered to be a rigid volume through which air flowed continuously. The rate of air flow, or ventilation was the parameter controlled by the respiratory center. In this investigation short time effects are of primary importance. The lung volume is allowed to vary on a breath by breath basis. The resultant variation in other parameters is examined to determine their effect upon the entire system. The conditions under which these variations may be neglected are also considered.

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