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Session: Poster session II
Session starts: Thursday 24 January, 16:00

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Zhanqi Zhao (Furtwangen University)
Sabine Krueger-Ziolek (Furtwangen University)
Knut Möller (Furtwangen University)

Abstract:
Respiratory system consists of series of interacting functions, including ventilation, perfusion, gas exchange and controlling of breathing muscles. Pulmonary function diagnosis is important to identify the severity of pulmonary impairment. However, information of regional ventilation distribution is missing from traditional pulmonary function diagnosis, such as spirometry, body plethysmography or diffusion test. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a non-invasive functional imaging technique that is capable of tracing regional gas volume changes [1]. Previous studies showed that valuable information was gained by combining spirometry with EIT [2, 3]. Body plethysmography provides information that cannot be obtained with spirometry, e.g. lung residual volume and airway resistance. In the current study, we present a measurement system that combines body plethysmography and EIT. This study was supported by the body plethysmograph manufacturer Ganshorn (Niederlauer, Germany) and the EIT manufacturer Dräger (Lübeck, Germany). The system is under construction. EIT electrode cables are permanently mounted in the body plethysmograph through the bottom of the body box and conducted along the box pillar. The connection of the EIT device and the electrode cables is achieved with an adaptor. Calibration process of the body box and measurement procedure remain unchanged. Interactions between EIT and body plethysmography are still not clear and should be examined in further studies. The new measurement system combining body plethysmography and EIT delivers information on both global and regional ventilation distribution. Further clinical studies are warrant to evaluate the contribution of the system in prognosis and diagnosis of respiratory status.