Fiber Deposition Pattern in Two Human Respiratory Tract Replicas

Abstract

This study consisted of a series of experiments to investigate the factors that might affect the fiber deposition pattern in the human respiratory tract. Carbon fibers with uniform diameter and polydispersed length were chosen as the test material. Two geometry-defined human respiratory tract replicas encompassing the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, trachea, and first few bifurcations of the tracheobronchial airways were used in this research. Deposition studies were conducted by delivering aerosolized carbon fibers into the replicas at constant inspiratory flow rates of 15, 43.5, and 60 L/min. The results showed that impaction is the dominant deposition mechanism for both replicas. Most of the fibers with high momentum deposited in the oral airway (oral cavity to larynx), and fibers with low momentum were found to pass through the entire replica easily. When comparing the results between the two replicas, fiber length, inspiratory flow rate, and the geometry of the oral airway were found to be factors that might affect the fiber deposition pattern in the human respiratory tract.