scholarly journals Computational fluid dynamics simulation of changes in the morphology and airflow dynamics of the upper airways in OSAHS patients after treatment with oral appliances

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Song Baolong ◽  
Li Yibo ◽  
Sun Jianwei ◽  
Qi Yizhe ◽  
Li Peng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Upper Airway ◽  
Biomechanical Properties ◽  
Dynamics Simulation ◽  
Ct Scans ◽  
Oral Appliances ◽  
Upper Airways ◽  
Obstructive Sleep ◽  
Airway Morphology

AbstractObjectivesTo explore the changes of morphology and internal airflow in upper airways (UA) after the use of oral appliances (OAs) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), and investigate the mechanisms by which OAs function as a therapy for OSAHS.MethodsEight OSAHS patients (all male, aged 37-58, mean age 46.25) underwent CT scans before and after OA use. Then, computational fluid dynamics(CFD) models were built on the base of the CT scans using Mimics and ANSYS ICEM CFD software. The internal airflow of the upper airways was simulated using ANSYS-FLUENT and the results were analyzed using ANSYS-CFD-Post. The data were analyzed to identify the most important changes of biomechanical properties between patients with and without OA intervention. Upper airway morphology and the internal airflow changes were compared using t-tests and Spearman correlation coefficient analysis.ResultsThe narrowest area of upper airways was found to be located in the lower bound of velopharynx, where the volume and pressure were statistically significantly increased (P<0.05) and the air velocity was statistically significantly decreased (P<0.05) in the presence of the OA(P<0.05). After wearing OA, pharyngeal resistance was significantly decreased (P<0.05), from 290.63 to 186.25Pa/L, and the airflow resistance of the pharynx has reduced by 35.9%.ConclusionThe enlargement of the upper airway after wearing the OA changed its airflow dynamics, which decreased the negative pressure and resistance in narrow areas of the upper airways. Thus, the collapsibility of the upper airways was reduced and patency was sustained.

scholarly journals Evaluation of human obstructive sleep apnea using computational fluid dynamics

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahab Taherian ◽  
Hamid Rahai ◽  
Samuel Lopez ◽  
Jamie Shin ◽  
Behrouz Jafari
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Obstructive Sleep Apnea ◽  
Sleep Apnea ◽  
3D Models ◽  
Ct Scans ◽  
Cfd Modeling ◽  
Apnea Hypopnea Index ◽  
Upper Airways ◽  
Obstructive Sleep

AbstractObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity might be correlated to the flow characteristics of the upper airways. We aimed to investigate the severity of OSA based on 3D models constructed from CT scans coupled with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The CT scans of seven adult patients diagnosed with OSA were used to reconstruct the 3D models of the upper airways and CFD modeling and analyses were performed. Results from the fluid simulations were compared with the apnea-hypopnea index. Here we show a correlation between a CFD-based parameter, the adjusted pressure coefficient (Cp*), and the respective apnea-hypopnea index (Pearson’s r = 0.91, p = 0.004), which suggests that the anatomical-based model coupled with CFD could provide functional and localized information for different regions of the upper airways.

scholarly journals Noninvasive estimation of pharyngeal airway resistance and compliance in children based on volume-gated dynamic MRI and computational fluid dynamics

2011 ◽  
Vol 111 (6) ◽  
pp. 1819-1827 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven C. Persak ◽  
Sanghun Sin ◽  
Joseph M. McDonough ◽  
Raanan Arens ◽  
David M. Wootton
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Images ◽  
Cfd Modeling ◽  
Tidal Breathing ◽  
Upper Airways ◽  
Pharyngeal Airway ◽  
Airway Collapse ◽  
Obstructive Sleep

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was used to model the effect of collapsing airway geometry on internal pressure and velocity in the pharyngeal airway of three sedated children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and three control subjects. Model geometry was reconstructed from volume-gated magnetic resonance images during normal tidal breathing at 10 increments of tidal volume through the respiratory cycle. Each geometry was meshed with an unstructured grid and solved using a low-Reynolds number k-ω turbulence model driven by flow data averaged over 12 consecutive breathing cycles. Combining gated imaging with CFD modeling created a dynamic three-dimensional view of airway anatomy and mechanics, including the evolution of airway collapse and flow resistance and estimates of the local effective compliance. The upper airways of subjects with OSAS were generally much more compliant during tidal breathing. Compliance curves (pressure vs. cross-section area), derived for different locations along the airway, quantified local differences along the pharynx and between OSAS subjects. In one subject, the distal oropharynx was more compliant than the nasopharynx (1.028 vs. 0.450 mm2/Pa) and had a lower theoretical limiting flow rate, confirming the distal oropharynx as the flow-limiting segment of the airway in this subject. Another subject had a more compliant nasopharynx (0.053 mm2/Pa) during inspiration and apparent stiffening of the distal oropharynx (C = 0.0058 mm2/Pa), and the theoretical limiting flow rate indicated the nasopharynx as the flow-limiting segment. This new method may help to differentiate anatomical and functional factors in airway collapse.

scholarly journals Human upper-airway respiratory airflow: In vivo comparison of computational fluid dynamics simulations and hyperpolarized 129Xe phase contrast MRI velocimetry

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0256460
Author(s):  
Qiwei Xiao ◽  
Neil J. Stewart ◽  
Matthew M. Willmering ◽  
Chamindu C. Gunatilaka ◽  
Robert P. Thomen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Phase Contrast ◽  
Upper Airway ◽  
Breathing Patterns ◽  
Cfd Simulations ◽  
Airflow Velocity ◽  
Obstructive Sleep ◽  
Respiratory Airflow

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of respiratory airflow have the potential to change the clinical assessment of regional airway function in health and disease, in pulmonary medicine and otolaryngology. For example, in diseases where multiple sites of airway obstruction occur, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), CFD simulations can identify which sites of obstruction contribute most to airway resistance and may therefore be candidate sites for airway surgery. The main barrier to clinical uptake of respiratory CFD to date has been the difficulty in validating CFD results against a clinical gold standard. Invasive instrumentation of the upper airway to measure respiratory airflow velocity or pressure can disrupt the airflow and alter the subject’s natural breathing patterns. Therefore, in this study, we instead propose phase contrast (PC) velocimetry magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of inhaled hyperpolarized 129Xe gas as a non-invasive reference to which airflow velocities calculated via CFD can be compared. To that end, we performed subject-specific CFD simulations in airway models derived from 1H MRI, and using respiratory flowrate measurements acquired synchronously with MRI. Airflow velocity vectors calculated by CFD simulations were then qualitatively and quantitatively compared to velocity maps derived from PC velocimetry MRI of inhaled hyperpolarized 129Xe gas. The results show both techniques produce similar spatial distributions of high velocity regions in the anterior-posterior and foot-head directions, indicating good qualitative agreement. Statistically significant correlations and low Bland-Altman bias between the local velocity values produced by the two techniques indicates quantitative agreement. This preliminary in vivo comparison of respiratory airway CFD and PC MRI of hyperpolarized 129Xe gas demonstrates the feasibility of PC MRI as a technique to validate respiratory CFD and forms the basis for further comprehensive validation studies. This study is therefore a first step in the pathway towards clinical adoption of respiratory CFD.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document