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Reduced Viscous Energy Dissipation Improves Displacement of Simulated Mucus during Cough in a Model Trachea

Effect of changing viscosity(η′) of simulated airway mucus (simulant) with similar adhesivity(γ=181.3±0.83N/m), surface tension(σ = 62.6±0.1dyne/cm) and storage modulus(G′=13.1±0.12Pascal(Pa)) on its displacement inside a model trachea was investigated during simulated coughs at three cough velocities (10, 15 and 20 m/s). η ′ were varied from 0.2 Pas to 1.0Pas (at 1Hz ). Coughs were generated by diverting 300ms burst of air through tracheal model with 0.3mL simulant, using a computer controlled solenoid valve. G′ and η ′ were measured with a rheometer, σ were measured using a Du Nouy ring and corrected for G′ and γ to Plexiglas surface was measured as the force required to initiate separation of contact at equilibrium divided by contact area, and corrected for G′. Results demonstrate that as η ′ decreases, displacement significantly increases at same cough velocity (p<0.05, ANCOVA). We speculate that this occurs through reduced dissipation of energy in molecular processes, increasing energy available for releasing mucus from attachments to surface. Increase in displacement was significantly larger at larger cough velocities (p<0.0001).