STATE CHANGES IN UPPER AIRWAY STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

这项建议的重点是对领导机制的理解 通过评估上肢的结构和功能来评估睡眠呼吸暂停 使用最先进的磁共振成像技术的呼吸道。 我们利用了最先进的动态技术的新实现 与呼吸道结合的磁共振成像和标记技术 睡眠呼吸暂停患者的结构和功能。这些研究已经 开始阐明上呼吸道的生物力学和顺应性， 特别是确定其形态的解剖结构 是上呼吸道发生的空间变化的基础 在呼吸期间，以及在睡眠期间的呼吸道关闭期间。我们的整体 假说是调节呼吸道大小变化的关键结构 在呼吸、睡眠和呼吸暂停期间，咽侧是 墙壁。基于定制计算机图形学的体积图像分析和 显示方法提供图像数据的客观量化。 加深对功能性和机械性呼吸道的理解 阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停患者的异常应导致 治疗这种疾病的新策略。

The focus of thsi proposal is an understanding of the mechanisms leading to sleep apnea by evaluating the structure and function of the upper airway using state-of-the-art magnetic resonance imaging techniques. We have utilized novel implementations of state-of-the-art dynamic magnetic resonance imaging and tagging techniques coupled with airway structure and function in patients with sleep apnea. These studies have begun to elucidate the biomechanics and compliance of the upper airway, and in particular determine the anatomic structures whose mortion underlies the dimensional changes that take place in the upper airway during respiration, and during airway closure during sleep. Our overall hypothesis is that the key structures mediating changes in airway size during respiration, sleep, and during apneas are the lateral pharyngeal walls. Customized computer graphics-based volumetric image analysis and display methods provide for objective quantitation of teh image data. Improved understanding of the functional and mechanical airway abnormalities in patients with obstructive sleep apnea should lead to new treatment strategies for this disorder.