Modeling the effects of external oscillations on mucus clearance in obstructed airways

• Published in: Biomechanics and modeling in mechanobiology Vol. 23; no. 1; pp. 335 - 348
• Main Authors: Hamida El Naser, Yusuf, Karayel, Durmuş
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.02.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Amplitudes; Biological and Medical Physics; Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering; Biophysics; Boundary conditions; Bronchi; CAE; Chest Wall Oscillation - methods; Computational fluid dynamics; Computer aided engineering; Cystic Fibrosis - therapy; Engineering; Fluid dynamics; Forced Expiratory Volume; Humans; Hydrodynamics; Mathematical models; Mucus; Non Newtonian flow; Original Paper; Oscillations; Respiration; Respiratory tract; Secretions; Shear thinning (liquids); Theoretical and Applied Mechanics; Vibration; Vibrations; Tracheobronchial obstruction; External oscillations; Chaotic vibrations; Chest physiotherapy; Non-Newtonian flow; Mucus clearance
• ISSN: 1617-7959; 1617-7940
• DOI: 10.1007/s10237-023-01778-3

Various therapeutic methods are employed to facilitate the clearance of secretions accumulated in the respiratory tracts of individuals with lower respiratory tract disorders. High-frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) device, designed to apply variable amplitude and frequency vibrations to the individuals' chests, stands out among these therapies. In this study, the effectiveness of this treatment method was investigated numerically using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) on the generated mucus-obstructed bronchial geometry. The conducted analyses compared the effects of vibrations acting in the axial, radial, and tangential directions on the clearance of mucus, which exhibits non-Newtonian flow behavior with shear-thinning properties. Simultaneously, the effects of changes in vibration amplitude and frequency, pressure differentials, fluid properties, and ciliary movements on the flow were separately examined and interpreted. The findings demonstrate that ciliary movements are insufficient in mucus-accumulated airways, applied vibrations enhance mucus clearance, and potential improvements in flow are quite sensitive to boundary conditions.