Aerosol Delivery by Inhalation Catheter and Trachea Digitalization

Abstract

Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is related with high mortality and morbidity in preterm infants and the best approach to treat it is an open research field. The use of perfluorocarbons (PFC) together with non-invasive respiratory support techniques, such as nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), has confirmed its effectiveness to achieve a more homogeneous surfactant distribution. The goal of the current study was to evaluate the main features of the aerosol generated by an intracorporeal inhalation catheter, which consists of one central lumen delivering the liquid and six peripheral lumens delivering compressed air. Firstly, experiments were made through an Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS) with sterile water and perfluorocarbon FC75 with a driving pressure of 4 bar to analyze properties linked with lung deposition such as the aerodynamic diameter (Da), mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) and geometric standard deviation (GSD). Subsequently, a numerical model was developed with CFD techniques. The experimental validation of the numerical model provides an accurate prediction of the air flow axial velocity.