Visualization of Aspiration due to Changes in Rheological and Tribological Parameters Using a Three-Dimensional Swallowing Simulator

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of the rheological and tribological parameters of a food bolus on the organ surface during swallowing. A swallowing simulator was developed based on a three-dimensional moving-particle simulation with a realistic human organ model. The simulator enables numerical comparisons using a standard human model based on food models with different rheological and tribological parameters. Through a parametric study, we can successfully characterize several aspiration patterns for low viscosity with high-density and high-viscosity food models. Our results revealed that the main cause of the before aspiration was the fast bolus arrival at the epiglottis and not the small particles. The results also revealed that to control the outbreak of the spray for aspiration restraints, it is important to control the lubrication of the bolus. This study is not a simple aspiration simulation. Moreover, it can contribute to building an evaluation system that connects the properties of a food bolus with the aspiration phenomenon without any medical radiation risks. Based on the results, we conclude that our swallowing simulator is a useful tool for estimating and evaluating the aspiration phenomena, including the relationship between human organ movement and rheological and tribological properties of the food and organ surface.