Systems Biology Project

Title Preventing ventilator associated ling injury using feedback control engineering

Principal Investigator Professor Declan Bates

Collaborators Dr Jonathan Hardman (University of Nottingham)

Summary This project will develop a multi-compartmental, multi-scalar, mathematical model of alveolar ventilation dynamics (which includes gas exchange, dynamic and non-linear alveolar compliance and bronchial resistance), cardiovascular performance and blood (with reference to its gas-carrying abilities). The developed model will be used to elucidate the extent and distribution of the factors causative of lung injury in diseased, heterogeneous, mechanically-ventilated lungs. By treating the problem as one of feedback control, we will investigate methods of parameter adjustment in the mechanical ventilator to optimise cardiac output and arterial gas tensions while minimising the factors associated with VALI.

Funding body EPSRC

Timescale 2008 to 2011