An idealized branching airway geometry that mimics average aerosol deposition in pediatric central conducting airways

The objective of this work was to design an idealized pediatric central conducting airway model that mimics average total particle deposition in the airways of 4–8 year old children. Dimensions of the idealized model were selected based on analytical prediction of deposition in scaled versions of existing adult airway geometries. Validation experiments were then conducted using steady inhalation air flow rate to measure the deposition of monodisperse particles with mass median diameters (MMD) of 3.5, 4.5, 5 and 5.2 µm in the idealized pediatric model. The total deposition of particles was measured using gravimetry. Experimental data confirmed that aerosol deposition in the idealized pediatric central conducting airway geometry was consistent with the average deposition previously measured in 10 realistic airway replicas for children 4–8 years old.