Design of Mechatronics Systems

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The global context of my research program has been, and will be for the coming years, in the design of mechatronic systems, and for the next 5 years I will focus on the control of liquid ventilator.****Total liquid ventilation (TLV) consists in completely filling the lungs with a breathable perfluorocarbon liquid (PFC) and using a dedicated liquid ventilator to move the liquid into and from the lungs. The ultimate objective is to develop liquid ventilators for all ages (newborns, infants and adults) and introduce TLV in hospitals and ambulances for different therapeutic treatments. In fine, the liquid ventilator will provide an efficient lung lavage for newborns, a superior respiratory support for patients in severe acute respiratory distress, and neuroprotective effects by fast induction of hypothermia for stroke survivors.****The development of control and monitoring strategies in TLV implies a perfect understanding of fundamental fluid-structure interactions in PFC-filled lungs, since the fundamental principle of TLV is the total elimination of the air-lung interface. Such alteration of the fluid-structure interaction in PFC-filled lungs provides therapeutic advantages for patients, but also creates fundamental flow limitations in the airways (the trachea can be unstable and collapse) and the rheological behavior of PFC in the lungs is largely unknown.****The objective of student PhD1 (years 1-3) is to develop real-time monitoring strategies (e.g. alveolar pressure, respiratory mechanics, etc.) based on models of the complicated rheological behavior of PFC in the lungs. The objective of student MScA1 (years 1-2) is to model the flow limitation non-linear process in PFC-filled airways in order to compare the actual flow control strategies. The objective of PhD3 (years 3-5) is to optimize the flow control strategies for uncertain lung models (relative to adult weight, animal models or humans, with or without lung diseases, normothermia or hypothermia). All developed algorithms and control strategies will be implemented and assessed by in-vitro and in-vivo animal experiments.****The developed monitoring strategies will inform the clinician regarding lung disease evolution such as the state of the partially obstructed airways during lung lavage. The advantages/drawback of the actual and optimized control strategies will be very helpful to clinicians to ensure efficient and safe TLV.****In addition to the research insights it promises (publications related to TLV), this program will propose the development of vibration model and control methods that will impact other domains.****Since this program will be performed to support parallel pre-clinical research to prepare the first human pilot study, it will contribute in a major medical breakthrough. The impact in the medical field of this first feasibility study will be such that it will highlight the liquid ventilator.***