Transfer impedance of the respiratory system by forced oscillation technique and optoelectronic plethysmography

To estimate the transfer impedance of the respiratory system (Ztr), we applied pressure forcing at the mouth from 1 to 24 Hz in eight healthy subjects and used optoelectronic plethysmography (OEP) to measure volume changes of the chest wall and its different compartments: pulmonary rib cage (RCp), abdominal rib cage (RCa) and abdomen (AB). Spectral analysis allowed assessment of input impedance (Zin) and total (Ztr) and compartmental (ZRCP, ZRCa, and ZAB) transfer impedances. As expected, averaged values of Zin and Ztr were similar at low frequencies (< 8 Hz) while they progressively differed at high frequencies. The percentage contributions of ZRCp, ZRCa , and ZAB to Ztr were, respectively, 35.3 +/- 1.4SD, 13.8 +/- 1.4, and 50.8 +/- 2.8 at low frequencies (< 8 Hz) and 63.1 +/- 5.5, 20.7 +/- 5.2, and 16.2 +/- 2.3 at higher frequencies (> 10 Hz). The validation of our approach was based on the comparison with a physical model comprised of a rubber membrane stretched over and attached to the lip of a bowl. We conclude that the combination of forced oscillations with OEP provides the simultaneous assessment of Zin and Ztr, it does not require the use of a plethysmographic chamber and it allows the separation between the different rib cage-abdominal pathways.