One-dimensional simulation of aerosol transport and deposition in the human lung

Abstract

One-dimensional transport models (trumpet model and multibranch-point model) derived from those developed to study gas transport and mixing in the lung are used to simulate aerosol deposition as a function of particle diameter and aerosol dispersion of inhaled bolus in human lungs. In agreement with previous studies, aerosol deposition is satisfactorily simulated by the different models. However, the differences between simulations and experiments of aerosol bolus dispersion suggest that current models are not realistic. This is probably due to the intrinsic limitations of the one-dimensional models to describe aerosol transport in the lung periphery. We show that future model analyses can probably use a symmetric acinar structure like the classic Weibel model of the lung but that multidimensional particle transport equations are required. Furthermore, a rigorous description of aerosol dispersion in the oral-laryngeal path is also needed.