My research interests focus on quantifying mechanical heterogeneity in diseases of the respiratory system, such as asthma, COPD, and acute lung injury. Heterogeneity of lung mechanics has important implications for the work of breathing as well as the distribution of ventilation. My lab relies on several advanced engineering techniques to quantify lung heterogeneity and optimize ventilation distribution, such as forced oscillation measurements of lung impedance, digital signal processing, image analysis, and computational modeling of respiratory mechanics. Other interests include the design and function of mechanical ventilators and anesthesia machines, patient monitoring, as well as linear and nonlinear systems analysis.

Selected recent publications:

Hager, D.N., M. Fuld, D.W. Kaczka, H.E. Fessler, R.G. Brower, B.A. Simon. Four methods of measuring tidal volume during high frequency oscillatory ventilation. Critical Care Medicine (in press)

Kaczka, D.W., D.N. Hager, M.L. Hawley, B.A. Simon. Quantifying mechanical heterogeneity in canine acute lung injury: Impact of mean airway pressure. Anesthesiology 103:306-317, 2005.

Kaczka, D.W., G. Beck. Mechanical ventilation in orbit: emphasis on closed-loop ventilation. Respiratory Care Clinics of North America 10: 369-400, 2004.

Kaczka, D.W., K.R. Lutchen. Servo-controlled pneumatic pressure oscillator for respiratory impedance measurements and high-frequency ventilation. Annals of Biomedical Engineering 32(4):596-608, 2004.