Experimental and Numerical Study on the Nasal Airflows in Post-surgery Models: Simulation of Nasal Surgery

Abstract

Airflows in one normal and six modified models (Post-surgery models) were investigated both experimentally by PIV and numerically by the CFX code. Compared to the normal case, it was found that the fluid and thermodynamic properties (i.e. velocity, surface pressure, surface shear stress, and temperature and humidity distributions) for the post-surgery models changed locally in the nasal cavity. Subsequently, these changes are likely to modify the physiological functions of the nose. Knowledge on stream-wise and time changes of flow-rate, surface pressure and shear stress distributions in the post-surgery models can contribute to the improvement of nasal surgery. The Web-based communication system between multi-researchers and medical doctors is established for making the post-surgery models and to discuss surgery plans. We also introduced a semi-automatic segmentation technique to reconstruct accurate three dimensional computer models from CT data rapidly and conveniently.