Experimental and Numerical Modeling of Aerosol Delivery for Preterm Infants

Iñigo Aramendia, Unai Fernandez-Gamiz, Alberto Lopez-Arraiza, Carmen Rey-Santano, Victoria Mielgo, Francisco Jose Basterretxea, Javier Sancho and Miguel Angel Gomez-Solaetxe
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Iñigo Aramendia: Nuclear Engineering and Fluid Mechanics Department, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Araba, Spain
Unai Fernandez-Gamiz: Nuclear Engineering and Fluid Mechanics Department, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Araba, Spain
Alberto Lopez-Arraiza: Department of Nautical Science and Marine Systems, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48013 Portugalete, Bizkaia, Spain
Carmen Rey-Santano: Animal Research Unit, BioCruces Health Research Institute, 48903 Barakaldo, Bizkaia, Spain
Victoria Mielgo: Animal Research Unit, BioCruces Health Research Institute, 48903 Barakaldo, Bizkaia, Spain
Francisco Jose Basterretxea: Department of Physical Chemistry, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
Javier Sancho: Nuclear Engineering and Fluid Mechanics Department, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Araba, Spain
Miguel Angel Gomez-Solaetxe: Department of Nautical Science and Marine Systems, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48013 Portugalete, Bizkaia, Spain

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-17

Abstract: Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) represents one of the major causes of mortality among preterm infants, and the best approach to treat it is an open research issue. The use of perfluorocarbons (PFC) along with non-invasive respiratory support techniques has proven the usefulness of PFC as a complementary substance to achieve a more homogeneous surfactant distribution. The aim of this work was to study the inhaled particles generated by means of an intracorporeal inhalation catheter, evaluating the size and mass distribution of different PFC aerosols. In this article, we discuss different experiments with the PFC perfluorodecalin (PFD) and FC75 with a driving pressure of 4–5 bar, evaluating properties such as the aerodynamic diameter (D a ), since its value is directly linked to particle deposition in the lung. Furthermore, we develop a numerical model with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques. The computational results showed an accurate prediction of the airflow axial velocity at different downstream positions when compared with the data gathered from the real experiments. The numerical validation of the cumulative mass distribution for PFD particles also confirmed a closer match with the experimental data measured at the optimal distance of 60 mm from the catheter tip. In the case of FC75, the cumulative mass fraction for particles above 10 µm was considerable higher with a driving pressure of 5 bar. These numerical models could be a helpful tool to assist parametric studies of new non-invasive devices for the treatment of RDS in preterm infants.

Keywords: aerosol; CFD; inhalation catheter; perfluorocarbons; respiratory distress syndrome (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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