Abstract
A study was undertaken to demonstrate the feasibility of using audible-frequency vibro-acoustic waves for diagnosis of pneumothorax, a collapsed lung. The hypothesis was that the acoustic response of the chest to external excitation would change with this condition. External acoustic energy was introduced into the trachea via an endotracheal tube. For the control (nonpneumothorax) state, it is hypothesized that sound waves primarily travel through the airways, couple to the lung parenchyma, and then are transmitted directly to the chest wall. In contradistinction, when a pneumothorax is present the intervening air presents an added barrier to efficient acoustic energy transfer. A theoretical model of sound transmission through the pulmonary system and chest region to the chest wall surface is developed to more clearly understand the mechanism of intensity loss when a pneumothorax is present, relative to a baseline case. The model predicts a decrease in acoustic transmission strength of as much as two ordersof magnitude when a pneumothorax is present. This is approximately in agreement with experimental measurements on mongrel cannies. Development of the model and its comparison with experimental canine studies will be reviewed. [Research supported by NIH NCRR Grant No. 14250 and NIH NHLBI Grant No. 61108.]
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