Grants and Contributions:

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

A nebulizer is a type of drug delivery device that provides medication in the form of an aerosol that can bex000D
inhaled into the lungs and absorbed into the bloodstream. They are typically used to treat respiratory illnessesx000D
such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and asthma. Nebulizers operate by taking a medication inx000D
liquid form, transforming it into small aerosol droplets of a particular size, and delivering those droplets to thex000D
mouth of the patient for inhalation. There are several different types of nebulizer, the most common of which isx000D
the jet nebulizer, which will be studied during the proposed project. These operate through the use of ax000D
high-speed jet of compressed gas, which entrains the liquid and converts it to an aerosol, typically by collidingx000D
the liquid droplets with a baffle.x000D
This project seeks to provide a better understanding of the operation of jet nebulizers from a fluid mechanicsx000D
perspective. To provide this understanding, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model will be developed tox000D
model the flow patterns in the device, and their role in the formation and delivery of aerosol particles. This willx000D
allow for optimization of nebulizer devices, which can lead to better utilization of the drug and shorterx000D
treatment times for patients. Ultimately, by improving the medical devices that treat respiratory illnesses, thex000D
patients' conditions can be better managed, allowing them to lead better lives.