Patent ID: 7988641
Filing Date: 2011-08-02
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method for estimating aerosol particle concentrations, comprising: introducing an aerosol bolus produced by an aerosol generator at a predetermined point in a breathing cycle; measuring inhaled and exhaled aerosol concentrations at discrete values of at least one of time, volume and dimensionless volume; estimating, with a computing device, initial values for intrinsic mixing on inhalation, intrinsic mixing on exhalation, effective volume of lung on inhalation, and effective volume of lung on exhalation; minimizing the estimated initial values; determining a volume of penetration; estimating, with a computing device, inhaled aerosol concentration as a function of the measured inhaled aerosol concentration and at least one of K(V) and K(t), wherein K(V) is a system function for mixing in the pre-lung as a function of volume and K(t) is a system function for mixing in the pre-lung as a function of time; and estimating, with a computing device, exhaled particle concentration as a function of the estimated inhaled aerosol concentration and a probability that a particle exits the lung in a provided volume.