Abstract
An in vitro experiment on the dissolved oxygen transport during liquid ventilation by means of measuring global oxygen concentration fields is presented within this work. We consider the flow in an idealized four generation model of the human airways in a range of peak Reynolds numbers of Re = 500–3400 and Womersley numbers of alpha = 3–5. Fluorescence quenching measurements were employed in order to visualize and quantify the oxygen distribution with high temporal and spatial resolution during the breathing cycle. Measurements with varying tidal volumes and oscillating frequencies reveal short living times of characteristic concentration patterns for all parameter variations. Similarities to typical velocity patterns in similar lung models persist only in early phases during each cycle. Concentration gradients are quickly homogenized by secondary motions within the lung model. A strong dependency of peak oxygen concentration on tidal volume is observed with considerably higher relative concentrations for higher tidal volumes.
Highlights
Within the work here presented, we want to introduce an in vitro study on the dissolved oxygen transport and distribution modeling the flow within the conductive airways of the human lung
To the best of the authors knowledge, this is the first time that the temporal and spatial oxygen concentration distribution could be visualized in a lung model
The evaluation of oxygen concentration in the complete model revealed that there are only slight similarities with velocity patterns known from literature in similar models
Summary
Within the work here presented, we want to introduce an in vitro study on the dissolved oxygen transport and distribution modeling the flow within the conductive airways of the human lung. Two different flow paths are needed to supply the model with liquid of high or low oxygen concentration during inspiration and expiration, respectively.
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