Abstract

A system and method for simulating a human respiratory system to facilitate investigating the functioning of the respiratory system, such as the generation and effects of secondhand smoke. An aerosol generator, which may include an atomizer, is configured to generate an aerosol. A series of filter media includes, in order, an inhaling extrathoracic filter media, an inhaling tracheobronchial filter media, an alveolar filter media, an exhaling tracheobronchial filter media, and an exhaling extrathoracic filter media. Each filter media includes one or more layers of a material having a fiber diameter and a weight that simulate the corresponding region of the respiratory system. A conduit may be configured to define a path for the aerosol from the aerosol generator through the series of filter media. An instrument, such as a scanning mobility particle sizer, may be used to measure a property of a secondhand aerosol exiting the exhaling extrathoracic filter media.

Department(s)

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering

Second Department

Biological Sciences

Comments

Docket Number: 22MST010-UTL

Filing Date: 03/24/2023

Issue Date: 08/05/2023, FY26

References Cited

U.S. Patent Documents:

2016/0217709 A1* 7/2016 Minskoff…............G09B 23/30

2021/0172840 A1* 6/2021 Finlay…............G01N 1/2205

Foreign Patent Documents:

WO WO-2019016094 A1* 1/2019...............A24C 5/34

Prior Publication Data:

US 2023/0306874 A1 September 28, 2023

Patent Application Number

18/189,488

Patent Number

US 12,380,811 B2

Document Type

Patent

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2026 The Curators of the University of Missouri, All rights reserved

Additional Rights Information

Assignee: The Curators of the University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri (US)

Publication Date

5 August, 2025

Download

Share

 
COinS