A study on estimation of the deformation behavior in the collapse process of lung.

In this paper, finite element methodology was applied to predict the deformation of tissue during lung collapse using pre-operative information. Accurate prediction of lung collapse deformation prior to surgical intervention can provide valuable diagnostic information to clinical staff, allowing a better understanding of the movement of the target segment. This paper describe the methodology to derive the deformed shape of finite element model that satisfy the equilibrium condition using 3-D model developed from the image measured by a multi-slice CT imaging device. The movement of the target segment can be predicted by the finite element model. Previous research studies applied the distributed load on the surface of the lung structure as loading conditions. Here we have suggested a method that considers the deformation of alveoli contraction and elongation while breathing. Specifically, by introducing the governing equations of a reduction in volume strain into the governing equations of the finite element method, lung structure is analyzed. Lung deformation obtained from the analysis was compared with experimental results and compared with the proposed method. The proposed method showed an improvement of deformation-prediction accuracy as 0.58%. We confirmed the qualitative similarities between the deformation of the analysis and the experiment, thus demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed method.