Gas and Particle Deposition in Tracheobronchial Airways

摘要

Gas and aerosol deposition efficiency in lung airways of humans and animals were investigated under two different airflow patterns: steady inspiratory flow and pulsatile inspiratory flow. The differences and similarities between deposition patterns in the human dichotomous branching tracheobronchial tree and the canine monopodial branching were documented. Hollow airway casts were prepared from whole lungs obtained at autopsy from a 45-year-old man and from a mixed-breed dog. Morphometric measurements were made on the casts through the fifth generation for all airway branches and to the terminal airways along a major branch path, a minor branch path, and a path which alternately selects major and minor branches. Flow measurements were made for inspiratory flow and pulsatile inspiratory flow. Pulsatile inspiratory flow was found to be more realistic than steady flow in this model. The hollow airway cast system was evaluated for use in investigations of patterns of gas transfer to airway surfaces.