Flow changing device for varying the compliance of a simulator dedicated to respiratory physiotherapy learning

Semi-active energy dissipation devices are used in various domains like the automotive industry or seismic protection structures. This article presents the design and the implementation of a cylinder/piston energy dissipation system in a 6-month old infant simulator for respiratory physiotherapy training. The system is supposed to modify the compliance of the simulators thorax by equipping it with a flow changing device connected between the two cylinder chambers. The principle consists in modifying the geometry of the flow pipe section. For that purpose, two solutions are proposed and implemented.