Anthropometry-based generation of personalized and population-specific human airway models

Abstract

Understanding aerosol deposition in the human lung is of great significance in pulmonary toxicology and inhalation pharmacology. Adverse effects of inhaled environmental aerosols and pharmacological efficacy of inhaled therapeutics are dependent on aerosol properties as well as person-specific respiratory tract anatomy and physiology. Anatomical geometry and physiological function of human airways depend on age, gender, weight, fitness, health, and disease status. Tools for the generation of the population- and subject-specific virtual airway anatomical geometry based on anthropometric data and physiological vitals are invaluable in respiratory diagnostics, personalized pulmonary pharmacology, and model-based management of chronic respiratory diseases. Here we present a novel protocol and software framework for the generation of subject-specific airways based on anthropometric measurements of the subject's body, using the anatomical input, and the conventional spirometry, providing the functional (physiological) data. This model can be used for subject-specific simulations of respiration physiology, gas exchange, and aerosol inhalation and deposition.

Keywords: airway geometry; anthropometry; human lungs; inhalation aerosols; lung CT imaging; mathematical model; personalized lung model.