Numerical Modeling of Bowel Sound Propagation: Impact of Abdominal Tissue Properties

Bowel sounds, produced by intestinal peristalsis, are essential for diagnosing gastrointestinal disorders. However, acquiring and analyzing bowel sounds is challenging due to their unpredictable nature and individual variability. Biological tissues can affect bowel sounds during propagation, resulting in varying degrees of signal attenuation between the sound source and the transducer. This study aims to develop a numerical model of bowel sound propagation in the abdominal cavity, focusing on the impact of different biological layers on signal attenuation. Validation of the model demonstrated strong consistency between simulated and actual bowel sound signals, confirming the model’s accuracy and reliability. The model accounted for adipose tissue thickness, ranging from 5 to 20 mm across individuals, while muscle and skin thicknesses remained constant. Results indicated that signal attenuation increases with both the propagation distance and adipose tissue thickness. These findings provide insights into how tissue layers influence bowel sound propagation, offering a theoretical foundation for developing personalized and precise monitoring devices.