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Biomedical subjects

T B Martonen

Publications and source records attributed to T B Martonen.

45 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Design and development of a micro-thermocouple sensor for determining temperature and relative humidity patterns within an airstream.

This paper describes the production and calibration of a miniature psychrometer treated with a specially developed porous coating. The investigation was conducted to determine localized patterns of rapidly changing temperature and relative humidity in dynamic flowing gas environments (e.g., with particular attention to future applications to the human respiratory system). The technique involved the use of dry miniature thermocouples and wetted miniature thermocouples coated with boron nitride to act as a wicking material. A precision humidity generator was developed for calibrating the psychrometer. It was found that, in most cases, the measured and expected (i.e., theoretically predicted) relative humidity agreed to within 0.5 to 1.0 percent relative humidity. Procedures that would decrease this discrepancy even further were pinpointed, and advantages of using the miniature psychrometer were assessed.

Air↗
PubMed1985

Ambient sulfate aerosol deposition in man: modeling the influence of hygroscopicity.

Atmospheric sulfate aerosols [H2SO4, (NH4)2SO4, and NH4HSO4] are of international concern because of their global prevalence and potential irritant or toxic effects on humans. To assess hazards following inhalation exposure, the total dose delivered to the human respiratory tract and its regional distribution must be determined. The mass median aerodynamic diameter of the inhaled aerosol will influence the sites of deposition in the respiratory tract. Atmospheric sulfate aerosols are hygroscopic and will have changing particle sizes and densities as they absorb water vapor in the humid environment of the human respiratory tract. Experimental and theoretical data that describe particle size as a function of temperature and relative humidity were used in computer subroutines of an aerosol deposition model in order to calculate the dose dispersion of H2SO4, (NH4)2SO4, and NH4HSO4 aerosols in man. Different temperature and relative humidity environments that approximately correspond to nasal and oral breathing were studied. The predicted deposition patterns are very different from those of nonhygroscopic aerosols with identical inhaled mass median aerodynamic diameter values.

Aerosols↗
PubMed1982

Theoretical basis of single breath gas absorption tests.

Absorption of gas from alveoli is examined in a simplified model of the respiratory system during a stylized single breath consisting of constant inspiratory flow, constant expiratory flow, and breathholding. The equations describing gas behavior are general since they are based upon conservation of mass. The equations simplify considerably when gases that are not soluble in pulmonary tissue and/or blood are utilized. In a three-compartment model, diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DCO) will be underestimated except when both uneven distribution of lung volume and DCO are present; under most circumstances, the standard clinical 10-s method [9] is at least as accurate as any other. When pulmonary capillary blood flow (Qc) is calculated by the one point method [2] in a one-compartment lung, it is underestimated; in the three-compartment model, it is underestimated except when both uneven distribution of Qc and lung volume are present. The multiple single breath method [2] accurately measures DCO and Qc. Measurement of pulmonary tissue volume is improved by correcting the value of the intercept of acetylene absorption to the time when carbon monoxide apparently began rather than utilizing the beginning of inspiration.

Capillaries↗
PubMed1981

Modeling the dose distribution of H2SO4 aerosols in the human tracheobronchial tree.

The influence of hygroscopic growth within the human respiratory tract upon the deposition of H2SO4 aerosols is investigated using an analytical model. Particles are assumed to reach their equilibrium size and density upon entering the trachea from either the nasal or oral pharyngeal compartments. Calculated data are used to describe the equilibrium values for specified relative humidity conditions which simulate the atmosphere, inhalation exposure chambers, and the lung. Theoretical equations are used to calculate aerosol deposition efficiencies within conducting airways of the tracheobronchial tree. Hygroscopic growth is shown to affect both the total dose deposited and its regional distribution. For an inspiratory flow rate of 30 L min-1, the total deposition efficiency of H2SO4-and-H2O droplets, resulting from water condensation upon H2SO4 particles of initial geometric diameter D0, is greater than inspired nonhygroscopic particles of identical aerodynamic diameter when D0 greater than 0.1 mu m. The opposite is found when D0 less than 0.1 mu m. The effects of hygroscopic growth are explained in terms of the changing deposition efficiencies of the inertial impaction, sedimentation and diffusion mechanisms. Results imply that it is important that hygroscopic growth within the human respiratory tract be accounted for when assessing the potential health hazard of airborne particulate matter.

Aerosols↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The deposition of hygroscopic phosphoric acid aerosols in ciliated airways of man.

The hygroscopic growth of phosphoric acid aerosol (Dc greater than 0.5 micron) within the human tracheobronchial tree is modeled to investigate changes in deposition characteristics when compared to nonhygroscopic aerosols of identical preinspired size. Phosphoric acid particles are assumed to grow in a stepwise fashion to 99% relative humidity (RH) within conducting airways of the lung, having initially reached equilibrium at 90% RH (T = 37 degrees C) in the trachea. Deposition efficiencies for growth and no growth are calculated from theoretical equations for inertial impaction, sedimentation and diffusion. The results show that neglecting the growth of an inhaled phosphoric acid aerosol may result in underestimation of the total deliverable dose by a factor of as much as 600-700%. Significant differences in regional deposition sites for hygroscopic or nonhygroscopic aerosols are predicted. Increased deposition efficiencies imply that measured physical properties (respirable fraction, aerodynamic diameter) of aerosols alone are not sufficient to assess deposition characteristics within the lung; hygroscopic growth must also be considered.

Aerosols↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Computation of ammonium bisulfate aerosol deposition in conducting airways.

Experimental measurements of the growth of monodisperse dry NH4HSO4 aerosols by H2O vapor condensation have been reported in the literature. These data are incorporated into an aerosol deposition model to study the behavior of inhaled NH4HSO4 particles, which is of concern in relation to human health. The tracheobronchial tree is described by Weibel's model A morphology, and Landahl's formulas are used to compute particle deposition efficiencies. Enhanced losses in the trachea due to the action of the laryngeal jet are accounted for by using an empirical deposition efficiency equation. The effect of NH4HSO4 aerosol growth is quantitated by comparisons of total and intrabronchial deposition probabilities with those of a nonhygroscopic aerosol of equal aerodynamic size. Computations indicate that hygroscopic growth effects are a function of the size of the particles inhaled. Total deposition efficiencies of NH4HSO4-H2O droplet aerosols are greater than those of nonhygroscopic aerosols only if the former originate from dry NH4HSO4 particles exceeding a critical geometric diamter of 0.3 micrometer. Growth effects are explained in terms of the relative efficiencies of the dominant deposition mechanisms active in the lung.

Aerosols↗