Respiration simulation of human upper airway for analysis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a disease that the pharyngeal portion collapses repeatedly during sleep and finally results in the cessation of breathing. So far the potential pathogenesis factors that may cause OSAS are discussed from two main aspects: anatomic abnormalities of the upper airway and the weak or absence of nerve control mechanism. In this study, a three-dimensional finite element model which possesses high geometrical similarity with the real anatomical structure is built. By making use of the pressure in upper airway measured in normal expiration and apnea episode, the fluid field in upper airway and the displacement of the soft tissue around the airway are calculated using fluid-structure coupled algorithm, and then the result between normal respiration and apnea episode are compared. According to the result, the region where the maximum negative pressure and the largest displacement occur will be the most domains the airway collapses and breath apnea appears. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.