The pressure-flow method: some fundamental concepts

The pressure-flow method introduced by Warren and DuBois is a useful method for estimating velopharyngeal orifice area. However, this investigation shows that unless geometric similarity of subject and model exists, the value of the flow coefficient k used in the equation to estimate velopharyngeal orifice area cannot be established from model tests. Use of k = 0.65 is questioned as that value is typical of thin plate orifices, a geometry that is not a good representation of the velopharyngeal passage. Values of k from the literature and from steady state tests using a model similar to Warren's are presented to show the effect of various inlet shapes. The influence of inlet shape supports the conclusion that k may be significantly higher than 0.65, conceivably approaching values in the range of 0.9 to 0.97, depending on the orifice geometry.