Physiological causes of drift in lung volume measurements
by
Alona Ben-Tal
Massey University
Coauthors: Greg King, Catherine Walsh and Robin Schoeffel

Measurements of sub-divisions of lung volume are routinely used for detecting, characterising and quantifying lung diseases. Anecdotal evidence suggests that in some cases these measurements are inaccurate due to drift - a gradual increase or decrease of the calculated lung volume. We use a mathematical model of the lungs to quantify the magnitude of drift and show what physiological factors could affect it.

Date received: December 17, 2009