Restricted diffusion in a model acinar labyrinth by NMR: theoretical and numerical results. 
A branched geometrical structure of the mammal lungs is known to be crucial for rapid access of oxygen to blood.  But an important pulmonary disease like emphysema results in partial destruction of the alveolar tissue and enlargement of the distal airspaces, which may reduce the total oxygen transfer.  This effect has been intensively studied during the last decade by MRI of hyperpolarized gases like helium-3.  The relation between geometry and signal attenuation remained obscure due to a lack of realistic geometrical model of the acinar morphology.  In this paper, we use Monte Carlo simulations of restricted diffusion in a realistic model acinus to compute the signal attenuation in a diffusion-weighted NMR experiment.  We demonstrate that this technique should be sensitive to destruction of the branched structure: partial removal of the interalveolar tissue creates loops in the tree-like acinar architecture that enhance diffusive motion and the consequent signal attenuation.  The role of the local geometry and related practical applications are discussed.