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Supercomputer Description of Human Lung Morphology for Imaging Analysis

Experimental Toxicology Division. U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, and Division of Pulmonary Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Microelectronics Division, IBM Corporation, Research Triangle Park
Center for Extrapolation Modeling, Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, United Kingdom

Correspondence: For correspondence or reprints contact: T.B. Martonen, hD, Mail Drop 74, Experimental Toxicology Division, U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711.

ABSTRACT

A supercomputer code that describes the three-dimensional branching structure of the human lung has been developed. The algorithm was written for the Cray C94. In our simulations, the human lung was divided into a matrix containing discrete volumes (voxels) so as to be compatible with analyses of SPECT images. The matrix has 3840 voxels. The matrix can be segmented into transverse, sagittal and coronal layers analogous to human subject examinations. The compositions of individual voxels were identified by the type and respective number of airways present. The code provides a mapping of the spatial positions of the almost 17 million airways in human lungs and unambiguously assigns each airway to a voxel. Thus, the clinician and research scientist in the medical arena have a powerful new tool to be used in imaging analyses. The code was designed to be integrated into diverse applications, including the interpretation of SPECT images, the design of inhalation exposure experiments and the targeted delivery of inhaled pharmacologic drugs.

Key Words: computer simulation • lung morphology • voxel structure • imaging analysis • aerosol therapy

FOOTNOTES

This manuscript has been reviewed in accordance with the policy of the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views and policies of the agency, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

Editor's Note: This manuscript was submitted with 14 additional figures and 12 additional tables. This data was viewed as important material but represented inefficiens use of journal space. This material can be obtained by accessing the SNM home page via the Internet: http://www.snm.org.