Areas of Research

Inhalation delivery of medical aerosols and gases
Administration of medical aerosols and gases through inhalation is central to the treatment of respiratory disease and has additional application, for example, in anesthesia, analgesia, cardiology, and treatment of central nervous system disorders. Much of our recent and current work is dedicated to the development of representative laboratory test platforms used to evaluate inhalation drug delivery devices. Such platforms have use in the assessment of existing devices, as well as in early-stage research and development, providing rapid feedback on prototype device performance. One current area of focus is the evaluation of delivery efficiency and timing for medical gas administration via nasal cannula. This has application to pulsed delivery of oxygen from portable oxygen concentrators and other oxygen conserving devices, as well as to exploratory use of other medical gases such as nitric oxide. In addition, state-of-the-art facilities for aerosol measurement and inhaler testing are available within the department at the Aerosol Research Laboratory of Alberta, where we are working to improve and extend analytical and experimental models to evaluate aerosol drug delivery to patients of all ages.

Respiratory fluid mechanics and transport processes
Airway resistance is an important parameter used in describing the mechanics of breathing. We have been working to compare and validate different fluid mechanics models of airway resistance in subjects of varying age, ranging from young children to adults. The relationship between pressure loss and flow rate through the conducting airways influences work of breathing, and is widely used for diagnostic purposes in detecting and classifying respiratory diseases. Variation in airway resistance between individual airways or groups of airways along different paths through the lung plays a role in determining the distribution of ventilation between lung regions. Ventilation distribution in turn influences regional gas transport, mixing, and uptake, as well as transport and deposition of inhaled aerosols. By improving modeling and understanding of these processes, we aim to assist in the development and refinement of respiratory therapies to support breathing and improve gas exchange.

Medical device design and testing
Engineering analysis and design are central to the development of medical devices. With a focus on devices used for inhalation drug delivery and respiratory support, we work with industrial partners and health care providers to evaluate device performance in the laboratory and identify opportunities for improved design. The ready availability of engineering software and advanced 3D measurement and printing technologies within our department allows us to easily customize our test apparatus, and to quickly prototype and test new design concepts.