title: Prediction of particle deposition in the lungs based on simple modeling of alveolar mixing.
abstract: A simplified model of particle deposition in the lungs has been developed and implemented, based on the hypothesis that perfect mixing takes place in the alveolar volume of each airway generation. This key idea is combined with purely convective transport along airways, driven by steady alveolar expansion and contraction, and results in an analytically tractable model. Predictions of the model, and in particular pulmonary deposition, are found in very good agreement with detailed benchmark data in the literature for particle diameters d ≥ 0.1 μm. The success of this simple model provides indirect evidence in favor of the role of alveolar mixing in the deposition process.
authors.affiliation: Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Thessaly, 38334 Volos, Greece.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Georgakakou
authors.affiliation: Pulmonology Clinic, Medical School, University of Thessaly, 41000 Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gourgoulianis
authors.affiliation: Pulmonology Clinic, Medical School, University of Thessaly, 41000 Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Daniil
authors.affiliation: Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Thessaly, 38334 Volos, Greece. Electronic address: bont@mie.uth.gr.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bontozoglou
mesh_terms: D000388:Air; D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D001980:Bronchi / Q000502:physiology; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000502:physiology*; D012119:Respiration
keywords: Alveolar mixing; Analytic modeling; Kinematic irreversibility; Particle deposition