Interactive Role of Adhesivity and Angle in Mucus Clearance by Simulated Cough

Effects of viscoelastic properties of mucus simulants similar to that of healthy individuals and patients with severe lung diseases and adhesivity of mucus at four discrete angles (0°, 15°, 30°, and 45°) of a model trachea on displacement of mucus during cough at velocities in the range between 5 meters/second (m/s) and 30 m/s were investigated. Results indicated that displacement of mucus aliquot was enhanced significantly on adhesive surface compared to that on non-adhesive surface at all angles of the trachea, for both types of simulants in the velocity range studied. Results also showed that displacement increase with increasing angle of the trachea with respect to horizontal.