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Using Digital Image Correlation to Characterize Local Strains on Vascular Tissue Specimens
Published on: January 24, 2016
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Diseased and healthy murine local lung strains evaluated using digital image correlation
T M Nelson1, K A M Quiros1, E C Dominguez2,3
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA.
Scientific Reports
|March 21, 2023
Summary
Mechanical ventilation can harm lungs, especially in fibrotic disease. This study reveals how diseased lungs experience different strains, increasing susceptibility to ventilator-induced lung injury.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Biomedical Engineering
- Respiratory Physiology
Background:
- Pulmonary diseases cause irreversible tissue remodeling, impairing lung function and quality of life.
- Mechanical ventilation, while aiding respiration, can induce harmful regional lung strains, particularly in diseased lungs.
- Existing research inadequately addresses the local-level lung response to ventilation in disease states.
Purpose of the Study:
- To directly assess regional lung strains in fibrosis-induced ex-vivo mouse lungs during mechanical ventilation.
- To compare the mechanical properties and strain patterns between healthy and diseased lungs.
- To elucidate the mechanisms underlying ventilator-induced lung injury in fibrotic lung disease.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a custom-designed pressure-volume ventilator for controlled mechanical ventilation.
- Applied digital image correlation (DIC) to quantify regional lung strains.
- Analyzed ex-vivo mouse lungs with induced fibrosis, focusing on specific regions of interest.
Main Results:
- Fibrotic lungs demonstrated reduced distensibility and altered alveolar recruitment behaviors compared to healthy lungs.
- Significant differences were observed in regional strain patterns between diseased and healthy lung tissues.
- Local and global lung compliance exhibited disparate behaviors in fibrotic lungs, influenced by ventilation volume and rate.
Conclusions:
- Fibrotic lungs exhibit distinct mechanical properties and strain responses under ventilation, differing significantly from healthy lungs.
- These differences suggest fibrotic lungs are more susceptible to ventilator-induced lung injury.
- Understanding these localized strain patterns is crucial for optimizing mechanical ventilation strategies and mitigating lung injury in pulmonary disease.
