Computational modeling for simulating obstructive lung diseases based on geometry processing methods

Abstract

Obstructive lung diseases (e.g. asthma & COPD) are lifelong inflammatory diseases that result in narrowing of the lung airways, reducing the airflow that reaches the oxygen exchanging areas. The knowledge and understanding of the pathophysiology behind these diseases could lead to improved diagnosis and assessment, through the development of computational models that take into account details related to lung geometry, lung mechanical features and the dynamics of the fluid motion inside the lungs. Although there are several works that considers some of the aforementioned characteristics, none of them provides a fully integrated solution. To overcome this limitation, we have developed a software tool that combines geometry processing methods with 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD), allowing us to simulate in a realistic way the effects of bronchoconstriction in the dynamics of the air flow in the airways of the lung. The developed tool is expected to provide useful information regarding the way that either drug or other harmful particles are being dispersed inside the lungs during different levels of inflammation.