title: Efficient computations of gas transport in the respiratory tree.
abstract: The equation governing the transport of an inert gas in the respiratory tree is a linear PDE. There are several clinical situations where the PDE must be solved on a large number of consecutive breaths and, on each breath, a very small number of linear functionals of this solution evaluated. In this study we show how the solution of a relatively small number of adjoint problems may be used to calculate these linear functionals, thus reducing the volume of computation significantly. This technique may be used with other physical problems.
authors.affiliation: Oxford University, Computing Laboratory, Wolfson Building, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QD, UK.
authors.forename: Jonathan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Whiteley
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Gavaghan
mesh_terms: D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000097:blood; D009716:Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted; D010313:Partial Pressure; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange / Q000502:physiology*; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D009584:Nitrogen