Grants and Contributions:

Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year. (2017-2018 to 2018-2019)

The company Dymedso (Boisbriand, QC) manufactures The Frequencer(TM), a digitally controlled acousticx000D
airway clearance device that promotes bronchial drainage by inducing vibrations in the chest wall of a patient.x000D
The Frequencer(TM) is recommended for patients affected by defective mucociliary clearance including cysticx000D
fibrosis (CF), chronic bronchitis, thoracic wall defects among other pathologies. With an operating frequencyx000D
of 20 to 65 Hz, The Frequencer(TM) provides a gentler therapy than the traditional "clapping" method orx000D
postural drainage. Dymedso is looking to give an answer to its customers who claim a better mucous fluidity atx000D
frequencies of 37 to 42 Hz. The lack of mucous fluidity in patients with CF is ascribable to its dehydration as ax000D
consequence of insufficient excretion of NaCl to the airways, leading to the increase of secretion viscosity. Inx000D
the project proposed we will realize a series of tests to elucidate possible mechanisms underlying the transportx000D
of water and salt (NaCl) in mucin solutions at different operating frequencies and powers of Thex000D
Frequencer(TM). The objective will be achieved applying the head of The Frequencer(TM) to the top of ax000D
ad-hoc reactor containing biphasic mixtures of water and mucin solutions with salt. Besides water and saltx000D
concentration in the artificial mucous after exposure to different operating frequencies and powers of thex000D
Frequencer(TM), we will quantify changes in mucous rheological behavior and develop a numerical model forx000D
water and salt mass transfer through the mucin solutions.