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Dynamic instabilities in the inflating lung

Author

Listed:
  • Adriano M. Alencar

    (Boston University
    Boston University)

  • Stephen P. Arold

    (Boston University)

  • Sergey V. Buldyrev

    (Boston University)

  • Arnab Majumdar

    (Boston University)

  • Dimitrije Stamenović

    (Boston University)

  • H. Eugene Stanley

    (Boston University)

  • Béla Suki

    (Boston University)

Abstract

In lung diseases such as asthma1, expiratory flow becomes limited2, airways can collapse3 and the vital exchange of gases is compromised. Here we model the inflation of collapsed regions of the lung during inspiration in terms of avalanches propagating through a bifurcating network of airways, and find that the accompanying cascade of dynamic pressure instabilities — avalanche 'shocks' — manifests as negative elastic resistance of the lung. Our analysis of this apparent thermodynamic paradox provides a better understanding of aeration in the deep regions of the lung, which may find application in medical conditions in which gas exchange is impaired.

Suggested Citation

  • Adriano M. Alencar & Stephen P. Arold & Sergey V. Buldyrev & Arnab Majumdar & Dimitrije Stamenović & H. Eugene Stanley & Béla Suki, 2002. "Dynamic instabilities in the inflating lung," Nature, Nature, vol. 417(6891), pages 809-811, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:417:y:2002:i:6891:d:10.1038_417809b
    DOI: 10.1038/417809b
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    Cited by:

    1. Alencar, Adriano M. & Majumdar, Arnab & Hantos, Zoltan & Buldyrev, Sergey V. & Eugene Stanley, H. & Suki, Béla, 2005. "Crackles and instabilities during lung inflation," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 357(1), pages 18-26.
    2. Almeida, Alexandre B. & Buldyrev, Sergey V. & Alencar, Adriano M., 2013. "Crackling sound generation during the formation of liquid bridges: A lattice gas model," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 392(16), pages 3409-3416.

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