MODELING THE ACOUSTIC PROPERTIES OF THE CHEST AND MEASURING BREATH SOUNDS

A model is developed for the human chest to reflect the principal dist inctions in the transmission of breath sounds from the trachea to the body's surface. The model is tested by comparison between the acoustic al properties calculated and measured at the surface of the chest. It is found that the disturbance introduced by the transducer gives rise to surface waves at the chest. The quantitative findings thus obtained can be used in developing techniques for an undistorted observation o f respiratory sounds.