Modelling the human pharyngeal airway: validation of numerical simulations using in vitro experiments

TL;DR

This study validates a numerical model predicting flow-induced collapse in the human pharyngeal airway by comparing simulations with in vitro experiments, demonstrating high accuracy and potential for rapid assessment.

Contribution

The paper introduces a validated numerical simulation approach for predicting airway collapse, incorporating simplified assumptions for computational efficiency.

Findings

Partial obstruction predicted and observed in experiments.

Numerical model achieves 4.2% mean quadratic error in deformation prediction.

Model demonstrates accurate and rapid fluid-structure interaction simulation.

Abstract

In the presented study, a numerical model which predicts the flow-induced collapse within the pharyngeal airway is validated using in vitro measurements. Theoretical simplifications were considered to limit the computation time. Systematic comparisons between simulations and measurements were performed on an in vitro replica, which reflects asymmetries of the geometry and of the tissue properties at the base of the tongue and in pathological conditions (strong initial obstruction). First, partial obstruction is observed and predicted. Moreover, the prediction accuracy of the numerical model is of 4.2% concerning the deformation (mean quadratic error on the constriction area). It shows the ability of the assumptions and method to predict accurately and quickly a fluid-structure interaction.