The eventual goal of this project is to describe the flow of gases through the lung. The specific objective of the proposed research is to characterize experimentally the axial and secondary flows in a model of bifurcating tubes that is dynamically similar to the human airways. The flows will be determined using laser-Doppler velocimetry at frequencies of normal breathing and also at frequencies used for high-frequency ventilation. This basic engineering research is an important first step toward a comprehensive description of flows in the entire lung. Such a description will lead to improved basic understanding, and eventually should also result in improved diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
