鼻腔通気の数値解析シミュレーション
スポンサーリンク
概要
- 論文の詳細を見る
The objective methods currently available to evaluate nasal obstruction are rhinomanometry and acoustic rhinometry. The aim of the present study was to carry out numerical simulations of airflows in the nasal cavity using three-dimensionally reconstructed images of the nasal cavity of patients obtained from CT data. As the first step, the effectiveness of flow computations using simple models of the nasal cavity was investigated. Two-dimensional acrylic resin nasal cavity models were constructed. In vitro experiments (water-flow experiment) and computer simulations of airflow patterns were then conducted. Air was used as the working fluid, the Reynolds number was calculated, and therefore the flow was assumed to be laminar. The flows were visualized by particle image velocimetry. Differences in the airflow pattern depended on the presence or absence of the middle and inferior turbinates in both the in vitro experiments and computational simulations. In both experimental and computational models without nasal turbinates, the fluid entered from the anterior aperture into the nasal cavity, after which a whirl was generated in the nasal cavity due to inspiration. There was consequently a flow found going forward in the lower portion of the nasal cavity. During expiration, a whirl was generated in the reverse direction, after which airflow turned backward in the lower portion of the nasal cavity. In both models with the turbinates, no large whirl, but a few tiny vortices and small reverse flows were generated during inspiration and expiration. These results may indicate that the turbinates play an important role in decreasing whirl and reverse flow in the nasal cavity and securing smooth and sufficient ventilation. Results in experimental and computational models were very similar. Therefore, computation was considered a reliable and useful method to simulate airflow in the nasal cavity and to investigate the nasal cavity anatomically.