Three-dimensional flow patterns in the upper human airways

Flow dynamics are studied for different ventilation conditions at a three-dimensional model of the human lung airways. The model is based on Horsfield and Weibel data and bifurcates down to the sixth generation. The flow is analyzed numerically and compared to experimental data received from exactly the same model. Numerical and experimental results agree well. Based on this agreement, flow behavior for conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) as well as for high frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) conditions can be analyzed. Velocity profiles as well as secondary flow structures are investigated during different phases of the unsteady flow. It is shown that the velocity profiles at peak inspiration and expiration are very similar for CMV and HFOV, probably due to too short branch lengths for the development of a frequency-dependent velocity profile. At the flow reversal times, characteristic zones of bidirectional mass flow emerge with increasing amplitude at higher frequencies. Furthermore, secondary flow structures are analyzed. This investigation reveals that the structures only depend on the local curvature and branch orientation, but are not influenced much by the nearby upper or lower branching generations.