3D-Visualization of particle deposition patterns in the human lung generated by Monte Carlo modeling: methodology and...

An advanced stochastic model is described which enables the generation of three-dimensional particle deposition patterns in the human lung. While particle trajectories are represented as a combination of randomly oriented vectors in a coordinate system with the trachea defining the z direction, deposition sites of single particles are determined by using a grid of specific volume elements (voxels). After storage in an array, the spatial coordinates are visualized with an appropriate graphic editor, enabling the combination of respective deposition images with lung outlines and the creation of two-dimensional distributions by sectioning the three-dimensional structures at pre-defined positions.