Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 429-438 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Journal of aerosol science |
| Volume | 41 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| Publication status | Published - 26 Feb 2010 |
Abstract
The exhaled breath of humans contains droplets originating from the lung lining fluid. An analysis of these droplets for non-volatile proteinaceous biomarkers holds potential as a non-invasive diagnosis of lung diseases. To ease the interpretation of the diagnostic results, the source strength of the particles should be known und therefore an understanding of the particle generation process is required. It is assumed that during reopening of a collapsed terminal airway a liquid bridge of the lung lining fluid ruptures and droplets are generated. The objective of our experimental and theoretical study was to clarify the mechanisms of droplet generation for quiet breathing patterns by investigating in detail the number flux and the particle size distribution in the exhaled breath. The process of liquid film rupture is modelled by computational fluid dynamics analysis from which the droplet size distribution is calculated. In addition the number emission flux and the droplet size distribution are systematically measured in the exhaled breath of healthy volunteers. The strong increase of the particle emission flux with tidal volume and the good agreement between measured and calculated droplet number distribution both showing droplets primarily in the submicron range confirm the present hypothesis that reopening of collapsed airway structures associated with the rupture of a surfactant film is the physical mechanism of droplet generation. This was hypothesized previously in the literature.
Keywords
- Droplet formation, Exhaled breath analysis, Exhaled droplets, Free surface flow, Particle/lung interaction
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Environmental Science(all)
- Environmental Chemistry
- Materials Science(all)
- Environmental Science(all)
- Pollution
Cite this
- Standard
- Harvard
- Apa
- Vancouver
- BibTeX
- RIS
In: Journal of aerosol science, Vol. 41, No. 5, 26.02.2010, p. 429-438.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Submicron droplet formation in the human lung
AU - Haslbeck, Karsten
AU - Schwarz, Katharina
AU - Hohlfeld, Jens M.
AU - Seume, Jörg R.
AU - Koch, Wolfgang
N1 - Funding information: The support of this work by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft under grants SE 1023/11-1 and HO 2158/1-1 and is gratefully acknowledged. The computations were performed at the HLRN (Norddeutscher Verbund für Hoch- und Höchstleistungsrechnen).
PY - 2010/2/26
Y1 - 2010/2/26
N2 - The exhaled breath of humans contains droplets originating from the lung lining fluid. An analysis of these droplets for non-volatile proteinaceous biomarkers holds potential as a non-invasive diagnosis of lung diseases. To ease the interpretation of the diagnostic results, the source strength of the particles should be known und therefore an understanding of the particle generation process is required. It is assumed that during reopening of a collapsed terminal airway a liquid bridge of the lung lining fluid ruptures and droplets are generated. The objective of our experimental and theoretical study was to clarify the mechanisms of droplet generation for quiet breathing patterns by investigating in detail the number flux and the particle size distribution in the exhaled breath. The process of liquid film rupture is modelled by computational fluid dynamics analysis from which the droplet size distribution is calculated. In addition the number emission flux and the droplet size distribution are systematically measured in the exhaled breath of healthy volunteers. The strong increase of the particle emission flux with tidal volume and the good agreement between measured and calculated droplet number distribution both showing droplets primarily in the submicron range confirm the present hypothesis that reopening of collapsed airway structures associated with the rupture of a surfactant film is the physical mechanism of droplet generation. This was hypothesized previously in the literature.
AB - The exhaled breath of humans contains droplets originating from the lung lining fluid. An analysis of these droplets for non-volatile proteinaceous biomarkers holds potential as a non-invasive diagnosis of lung diseases. To ease the interpretation of the diagnostic results, the source strength of the particles should be known und therefore an understanding of the particle generation process is required. It is assumed that during reopening of a collapsed terminal airway a liquid bridge of the lung lining fluid ruptures and droplets are generated. The objective of our experimental and theoretical study was to clarify the mechanisms of droplet generation for quiet breathing patterns by investigating in detail the number flux and the particle size distribution in the exhaled breath. The process of liquid film rupture is modelled by computational fluid dynamics analysis from which the droplet size distribution is calculated. In addition the number emission flux and the droplet size distribution are systematically measured in the exhaled breath of healthy volunteers. The strong increase of the particle emission flux with tidal volume and the good agreement between measured and calculated droplet number distribution both showing droplets primarily in the submicron range confirm the present hypothesis that reopening of collapsed airway structures associated with the rupture of a surfactant film is the physical mechanism of droplet generation. This was hypothesized previously in the literature.
KW - Droplet formation
KW - Exhaled breath analysis
KW - Exhaled droplets
KW - Free surface flow
KW - Particle/lung interaction
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77952955301&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jaerosci.2010.02.010
DO - 10.1016/j.jaerosci.2010.02.010
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:77952955301
VL - 41
SP - 429
EP - 438
JO - Journal of aerosol science
JF - Journal of aerosol science
SN - 0021-8502
IS - 5
ER -