Reduced-dimensional overall lung model

up

Christian Roth, Lena Yoshihara and Volker Gravemaier

Full lung modeling is a challenging topic. However, by means of such a comprehensive approach physicians are enabled to better understand the complicated behavior of lungs. Thus allowing for unique patient-specific treatments based on the patient's detailed lung geometry. The challenge is related to the fact that human lungs can have up to 16 generations of conducting airways connected to more than 20,000 acini. The acini in turn are composed of 400 to 900 million alveoli, with a gas exchange area of 50 to 100 m². The consituents of our modeling approach are summarized in the following.