Publication Cover
Inhalation Toxicology
International Forum for Respiratory Research
Volume 17, 2005 - Issue 13
123
Views
26
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Research Article

Simulation of Fiber Deposition in Bronchial Airways

, , , , &
Pages 717-727 | Received 17 Mar 2005, Accepted 26 May 2005, Published online: 06 Oct 2008
 

Abstract

Penetration probabilities of inhaled man-made mineral fibers to reach central human airways were computed by a stochastic lung deposition model for different flow rates and equivalent diameters. Results indicate that even thick and long fibers can penetrate into the central airways at low flow rates. Deposition efficiencies and localized deposition patterns were then computed for man-made fibers with variable lengths in a three-dimensional physiologically realistic bifurcation model of the central human airways by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques for characteristic breathing patterns. The results obtained for inspiratory flow conditions indicate that deposition efficiencies were highest for parallel orientation of the fibers, increasing with rising flow rate, branching angle, and fiber length at all orientations. Furthermore, deposition patterns were highly inhomogeneous and their localized distributions showed hot spots in the vicinity of the carinal ridge and at the inner sides of the daughter airways. Comparisons with other theoretical results demonstrate that the equivalent diameter concept, if including interception, presents a reasonable approximation for the parameter ranges employed in the present study.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.