Characteristic models of the upper conducting airways are needed to evaluate the performance of existing pharmaceutical inhalers and to develop new respiratory drug delivery strategies. Previous studies have focused on the development of characteristic mouth–throat (MT) geometries for orally inhaled products; however, characteristic upper tracheobronchial (TB) geometries are currently not available. In this study, a new characteristic model of the upper TB airways for an average adult male was developed based on an analysis of new and existing anatomical data. Validated computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were used to evaluate the deposition of monodisperse and realistic polydisperse aerosols from multiple inhalers. Comparisons of deposition results between the new model and a simpler geometry were used to identify the effects of different anatomical features on aerosol deposition. The CFD simulations demonstrated a good match to regional pharmaceutical aerosol deposition from in vitro experiments in the same geometry. The deposition of both monodisperse and pharmaceutical aerosols was increased in the new TB geometry as a result of additional anatomical detail on a regional and highly localized basis. Tracheal features including an accurate coronal angle, asymmetry, and curvature produced a skewed laryngeal jet and significantly increased regional deposition. Branch curvature and realistic cross-sections increased deposition in the remainder of the TB model. A hexahedral mesh style was utilized to provide the best solution. In conclusion, a number of physiological features in the upper TB region were shown to influence deposition and should be included in a characteristic model of respiratory drug delivery.
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Nuclear Engineering,
Virginia Commonwealth University,
Richmond, VA 23284;
Department of Pharmaceutics,
Virginia Commonwealth University,
Richmond, VA 23284
e-mail: pwlongest@vcu.edu
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September 2013
Research-Article
Development of Characteristic Upper Tracheobronchial Airway Models for Testing Pharmaceutical Aerosol Delivery
Ross L. Walenga,
Geng Tian,
Geng Tian
e-mail: tiang@mymail.vcu.edu
Nuclear Engineering,
Department of Mechanical and
Nuclear Engineering,
Virginia Commonwealth University
,Richmond
, VA 23284
Search for other works by this author on:
P. Worth Longest
Nuclear Engineering,
Virginia Commonwealth University,
Richmond, VA 23284;
Department of Pharmaceutics,
Virginia Commonwealth University,
Richmond, VA 23284
e-mail: pwlongest@vcu.edu
P. Worth Longest
1
Department of Mechanical and
Nuclear Engineering,
Virginia Commonwealth University,
Richmond, VA 23284;
Department of Pharmaceutics,
Virginia Commonwealth University,
Richmond, VA 23284
e-mail: pwlongest@vcu.edu
1Corresponding author.
Search for other works by this author on:
Ross L. Walenga
e-mail: walengarl@vcu.edu
Geng Tian
e-mail: tiang@mymail.vcu.edu
Nuclear Engineering,
Department of Mechanical and
Nuclear Engineering,
Virginia Commonwealth University
,Richmond
, VA 23284
P. Worth Longest
Department of Mechanical and
Nuclear Engineering,
Virginia Commonwealth University,
Richmond, VA 23284;
Department of Pharmaceutics,
Virginia Commonwealth University,
Richmond, VA 23284
e-mail: pwlongest@vcu.edu
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Bioengineering Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICAL ENGINEERING. Manuscript received January 8, 2013; final manuscript received April 24, 2013; accepted manuscript posted May 23, 2013; published online July 10, 2013. Assoc. Editor: Ender A. Finol.
J Biomech Eng. Sep 2013, 135(9): 091010 (18 pages)
Published Online: July 10, 2013
Article history
Received:
January 8, 2013
Revision Received:
April 24, 2013
Accepted:
May 23, 2013
Citation
Walenga, R. L., Tian, G., and Worth Longest, P. (July 10, 2013). "Development of Characteristic Upper Tracheobronchial Airway Models for Testing Pharmaceutical Aerosol Delivery." ASME. J Biomech Eng. September 2013; 135(9): 091010. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4024630
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