{"id":1303,"date":"2026-02-09T17:39:45","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T16:39:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ibib.waw.pl\/?page_id=1303"},"modified":"2026-03-15T15:26:15","modified_gmt":"2026-03-15T14:26:15","slug":"zaklad-iv-pracownia-1","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ibib.waw.pl\/en\/nauka\/zaklady-pracownie\/zaklad-iv-pracownia-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Laboratory for Diagnostics and Therapy of Cardiovascular-Respiratory System"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Krzysztof Zieli\u0144ski, PhD Eng. \u2013 Head of the Lab<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Prof. Marek Darowski, PhD, DSc
Assoc. Prof. Tomasz G\u00f3lczewski, Phd. DSc. Eng.
Maciej Kozarski, PhD Eng.
Jeremi Mizerski, PhD MD
Krzysztof Pa\u0142ko, PhD Eng.
Barbara Stankiewicz, PhD
Anna M Stecka, PhD Eng.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current research activities:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A. Simulators and computer models<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Proposing new or improved equipments and new or improved methods for supporting and testing the circulatory and respiratory systems has been the leading topic in the Laboratory since its establishment. As initial testing of new solutions on living patients is out of the question for ethical reasons, we have been developing simulation methods. Particularly noteworthy is the construction of an artificial respiratory and circulatory patient(Kozarski et al., 2015; Zieli\u0144ski et al., 2019a; Zieli\u0144ski et al., 2019b, Fresiello et al., 2020; Zieli\u0144ski et al., 2020; Zieli\u0144ski et al., 2022a; Pasledni et al., 2022; Pa\u0142ko et al., 2024; Pasledni et al., 2024),<\/strong>which is a hybrid physical-numerical model. The hybrid model combines the basic advantage of a physical model, which is the ability to test physical equipment, with the advantages of computer models, including, above all, the ability to take into account everything that is important in a given case and can be described mathematically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Schematic of an artificial patient. AGT, GE and BGT are models of: bronchial gas transfer, gas exchange and gas transport with blood, respectively.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Our artificial patient is composed of two simulators coupled with each other: the Hybrid Circulatory System Simulator (HSUK) and the Hybrid Respiratory System Simulator (HSUO). Each of them consists of two main parts \u2013 a numerical model and a physical-computer interface(Zieli\u0144ski et al., 2016<\/strong>which is the link between the real world represented by physical supporting devices (e.g. ventilator or blood pump) or diagnostic devices (e.g. spirometer) and the digital world represented by numerical models. Over the years, HSUK in various versions has been sold to the Foundation for the Development of Cardiac Surgery, the AGH University of Science and Technology and, together with HSUO, to the Warsaw University of Technology. In addition, one HSUK was loaned to the Catholic University of Leuven, where it was upgraded and used in scientific collaboration under a commercial-scientific agreement(Fresiello et al., 2022a, Rocchi et al., 2021, Colasanti et al., 2020),<\/strong>as well as offered as a service for testing newly developed heart assist devices(Fresiello et al., 2022b).<\/strong>This unit was sold to the University of Twente after the contract ended. 

The Laboratory has developed several versions of HSUO, differing in their pneumatic-computer interface, dedicated to various applications: simulating spirometry, simulating the respiratory system of an adult (Zieli\u0144ski et al., 2022a<\/strong>) as well as pediatric patients and infants (Stankiewicz et al., 2017a; Stankiewicz et al., 2017c; Stankiewicz et al., 2019a<\/strong>).

The circulatory part of the numerical model consists of a series of lumped parameter models simulating the mechanics of the heart and coronary circulation, systemic circulation and pulmonary circulation. Each of these models is additionally equipped with a model of gas transport with blood. Additionally, the entire circulatory system model is supplemented with a model of metabolism in tissues, autoregulation using the baroreceptor system and a model of pulmonary vasoconstriction.

The most advanced numerical component of HSUO is a virtual respiratory system consisting of several models exchanging data with each other; these are models of respiratory system mechanics, pulmonary circulation mechanics, gas transfer in the bronchi, gas exchange in lungs and transport of gases with blood (Zieli\u0144ski et al., 2019b; Zieli\u0144ski et al., 2022a<\/strong>). Most of the elements of these models are described by nonlinear equations; some of the parameters of these equations depend on the values of variables calculated by other models (e.g., supplements to G\u00f3lczewski et al., 2017; Stecka et al., 2018; G\u00f3lczewski et al., 2025<\/strong>). The virtual respiratory system can also be used as a stand-alone tool for the analysis and interpretation of (patho)physiological phenomena observed in living patients (e.g., G\u00f3lczewski et al., 2025<\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Results forced spirometry of two patients with very severe obstructive pulmonary disease. One of these patients is a living patient, the other - our artificial patient. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

\n

B. Mechanical support of the respiratory system<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Works related to mechanical support of the respiratory system, both engineering and research, constitute the most important part of the Laboratory's activity. One of our recent achievements is the design and commercialization of a pneumatic respiratory divider (VENTIL) enabling ventilation of each of the lungs in a different way using a single ventilator. VENTIL divides the respiratory mixture delivered by the ventilator to each of the lungs separately according to a given proportion. The activities of our Laboratory, in cooperation with the Institute of Medical Technology and Equipment of the \u0141ukasiewicz Research Network (\u0141-ITAM) (currently part of the Cracow Institute of Technology), resulted in the production of 200 pieces of the device and its introduction to the market as a medical product (\u0141-ITAM as the manufacturer). 

The properties of this divider were used during the COVID-19 pandemic to test the concept of ventilation of two patients using one ventilator, which was a response to the problem of the shortage of ventilators at that time. We conducted both laboratory studies and studies with a large animal model (Zieli\u0144ski et al., 2022b). The results showed that it is possible to safely ventilate two patients for at least 24 hours. However, such a non-standard type of respiratory therapy is associated with many challenges, such as the appropriate selection of alarms on the ventilator or providing additional monitoring of respiratory parameters for each of the ventilated patients. 

Other works related to independent lung ventilation include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n