Measurement of particle deposition patterns in a human nasal airway model using a Charge Coupled Device imaging system.

Charge Coupled Device (CCD) imaging technology is being applied to measure the spatial deposition patterns of inhaled aerosols in the nasal airway. The new technology allows the experimenter to measure local particle deposition patterns of different sized fluorescent particles at variable flow rates in a full-scale multi-section replica of a human nasal airway. Images of fluorescing particles on the exposed model have been taken with a CCD camera and combined to form three-dimensional particle deposition patterns. Total particle deposition efficiencies and particle deposition patterns have been measured in the nasal airway for 6 microns diameter particles and compared with published inhalation data.