Lung simulation is essential for healthcare professionals to practice respiratory care skills in a safe, controlled environment. However, even with the best equipment, challenges can arise that can disrupt training…
Lung simulators play a crucial role in respiratory therapy, critical care training, medical research and setting a standard for replicating human lung function in controlled settings. By mimicking human lung function, lung simulators offer healthcare professionals and researchers a reliable tool to improve patient care and deepen the understanding of respiratory mechanics.
In this blog, we’ll break down some of the components and functions of lung simulators, highlighting their innovative design and practical applications.
What are Lung Simulators?
There are several variations available, but overall, a lung simulator is a precision instrument designed to replicate the mechanical properties of human lungs. They allow users to simulate various breathing conditions, lung capacities, and respiratory challenges.
Lung simulators are invaluable for teaching and training, testing ventilators, and conducting clinical research. They offer a safe and controlled environment to explore complex respiratory scenarios.
Key Components of Lung Simulators
1. Test Lung Chambers
The test lung chambers form the centerpiece of a lung simulator. These chambers are designed and set up to mimic the elasticity and compliance of human lungs.
Most have the capability to replicate various lung conditions by offering settings from healthy lung function to diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).
2. Resistance Elements
Resistance elements control airflow within the simulator, replicating the resistance encountered in a patient’s airways. By adjusting the resistance, users can simulate different airway conditions. This offers versatility in testing ventilators or teaching/training in practical clinical scenarios.
3. Pressure and Volume Sensors
There are sensors embedded into some simulators that measure pressure, volume, and airflow in real time. These sensors provide critical data that help the user evaluate device performance, patient safety, and the efficacy of various treatment strategies.
4. External Connections
Lung simulators are designed with connections for ventilators, oxygen delivery systems, and other respiratory devices. These connections allow the simulator to serve as a testing platform, ensuring the performance and safety of life-supporting equipment.
How Does a Lung Simulator Work?
The lung simulator is designed to replicate the dynamics of human respiration. Below is an overview of how that’s done:
- Setup: The simulator is configured to mimic the desired respiratory condition. This may involve adjusting lung compliance, airway resistance, or the breathing pattern.
- Simulation: Airflow is introduced to the test lung chambers through external devices such as ventilators. The simulator responds by producing a realistic response and lung mechanics in the same way a patient would.
- Measurement: Data such as pressure, volume, and flow are collected, providing valuable insights into device performance and patient conditions.
- Analysis: The collected data is analyzed and the users are able to evaluate the effectiveness of respiratory therapies, devices, or clinical interventions.
Applications of Lung Simulators
Lung simulators are used across a wide range of fields, including:
- Medical Training: Providing hands-on experience for healthcare professionals to practice managing respiratory conditions and operating ventilators.
- Device Testing: Ensuring ventilators and other respiratory devices perform effectively under various conditions.
- Research: Facilitating studies into respiratory diseases and the development of new treatment methods.
- Education: Demonstrating respiratory mechanics to students and trainees in medical and healthcare programs.
Why Choose Michigan Instruments for Lung Simulators?
For decades, Michigan Instruments has led the way in lung simulator innovation, providing industry-leading tools for medical research and training. Our devices are known for their precision, reliability, and versatility. Whether you’re testing life-saving equipment or advancing medical research, our lung simulators provide the tools you need to succeed.
Explore the features and benefits of our lung simulators today. With Michigan Instruments, you’re not just getting a product – you’re gaining a partner in innovation and excellence.
For more insights and updates on medical simulation technology, follow our blog or contact us today. Let’s work together to shape the future of respiratory care.
For over 45 years, our Michigan Lung Simulator has offered residual lung volumes and a dynamic response to therapy that realistically represents all the functions of the human pulmonary system. Our devices are more advanced now than ever, thanks to our ever-changing technology and dedication to research.
We receive many questions about our lung simulators and their operations. Below are the questions we see most often
1. What Is The Difference Between A “Test Lung” And A “Michigan Lung Simulator”?
We’ve used the terms “test lung,” “training test lung,” and “Michigan lung simulator” to describe our TTL® and PneuView® products. In some ways, these terms are interchangeable. However, in a broader sense, the term “test lung” may include devices that are very simplistic rubber or latex bags.
On the other hand, “lung simulators” describe a more complex system that accurately mimics the dynamic mechanical characteristics of the human pulmonary system.
2. What Is The Fundamental Purpose Of A Michigan Lung Simulator?
There are several situations and settings where the use of a lung simulator is crucial. A solid lung simulator represents the functions of the human pulmonary system, as well as a range of healthy and diseased lung conditions.
A lung simulator should allow you to create, monitor and control those forces. For the following applications and more, a high-quality lung simulator is needed:
- Designing mechanical ventilators and other respiratory apparatus
- Developing new modes of ventilation support
- Training respiratory care and other medical professionals
- Performing periodic testing and maintenance on ventilation and support devices
- Troubleshooting equipment problems using a realistic “load”
3. How Do The TTL® And PneuView® Systems Model The Dynamic Compliance And Resistance Characteristic Of The Human Lungs?
Our TTL® and PneuView® systems use a bellows and spring to simulate the compliance characteristics of the lung. The spring can be positioned at several different points along the Top Plate of the simulator to create a lung compliance that ranges from very compliant to normal to very non-compliant (or stiff).
The resistance characteristics of the lung are set using fixed-orifice parabolic resistors that may be positioned to add resistance to the upper and/or lower airway assembly. A range of resistors allow for simulation of both healthy and diseased lung conditions.
4. What Is Factory Calibration?
Factory calibration involves tuning all aspects of sensor, electronic, mechanical and software to ensure maximum accuracy of the measurements and simulated parameters provided by TTL® & PneuView® systems.
Calibration procedures include the setting of the compliance and resistance characteristics of the lungs, as well as setting offset and gain characteristics for each of the pressure transducer channels.
5. How Do I Read The Tidal Volume On The Lung Simulators?
Each simulated lung in the TTL® or PneuView® System has a physical volume scale behind the Top Plate. There is also a plastic pointer and label on the Top Plate that can be used to indicate lung volume.
To ensure the most accurate indication of lung volume, the pointer on the top plate must correspond to the compliance setting on the lung. When set appropriately, the arrow will point to the gas volume in the lung.
Note: When using PEEP or CPAP, the starting volume (baseline volume) is greater than zero. The tidal volume would be the total indicated volume minus the baseline volume.
The volume indicator lines on the label are curved, more so as the compliance setting decreases. This is due to the sideways distention of the bellows that occurs during filling of the lung under pressure.
6. Are Michigan Lung Simulators Suitable For Tests With Aerosols Or Just Dry Air Only?
Water vapor will not damage the simulator. However, we generally don’t recommend introducing aerosolized substances into the lung chambers of our TTL® and PneuView® simulators for the following reasons:
- Substances other than water can be corrosive to the polyurethane bellows, and/or may accumulate on the ribs of the bellows causing them to stick, become brittle, or not function properly.
- There is no simple way to “drain” the bellows of any accumulated fluid. If using sterile/demineralized water, you may blow dry gas through the unit until it is fully dried.
Many of our customers have used the TTL® or PneuView® specifically to evaluate aerosol delivery with various devices and/or breathing patterns. In such cases, the aerosolized substance is typically collected using a hydrostatic filter placed in the simulated airway, prior to entering the lung bellows.
Let Us Answer Your Questions
If you have any other questions about our lung simulators, visit our FAQ page or contact us directly!
Grand Rapids, MI 49512 USA
Fax: 616.554.3067
