Development of a Computational Fluid Dynamics Model of a Jet Nebulizer Device for Aerosol Drug Delivery

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A nebulizer is a type of drug delivery device that provides medication in the form of an aerosol that can beinhaled into the lungs and absorbed into the bloodstream. They are typically used to treat respiratory illnessessuch as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and asthma. Nebulizers operate by taking a medication inliquid form, transforming it into small aerosol droplets of a particular size, and delivering those droplets to themouth of the patient for inhalation. There are several different types of nebulizer, the most common of which isthe jet nebulizer, which will be studied during the proposed project. These operate through the use of ahigh-speed jet of compressed gas, which entrains the liquid and converts it to an aerosol, typically by collidingthe liquid droplets with a baffle.This project seeks to provide a better understanding of the operation of jet nebulizers from a fluid mechanicsperspective. To provide this understanding, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model will be developed tomodel the flow patterns in the device, and their role in the formation and delivery of aerosol particles. This willallow for optimization of nebulizer devices, which can lead to better utilization of the drug and shortertreatment times for patients. Ultimately, by improving the medical devices that treat respiratory illnesses, thepatients' conditions can be better managed, allowing them to lead better lives.