List All Projects List Graduate Projects List Senior Design Projects List REU Projects Other Undergraduate Projects
Project # 2
Development of a novel 3D model to investigate prong-induced nasal septum injury in preterm infants
| Team Lead: | Rowa Hamdan |
| Other Team Members: | |
| Faculty Advisor(s): | Liping Tang, Shiyao Lin and Jun Liao |
| Department: | BE |
| Project Type: | Graduate Student |
| Title: | Development of a novel 3D model to investigate prong-induced nasal septum injury in preterm infants |
| Abstract: | Nasal prongs are widely used for continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy in premature infants, yet 20-60% develop nasal injury. Although nasal masks and binasal prongs deliver comparable respiratory support, each interface produces distinct injury patterns: masks commonly injure the philtrum, while prongs predominantly overload the columella and nasal septum. Injury persists despite routine interface rotation, largely due to prong-size mismatch, the fragility of neonatal skin, prolonged use, and positioning variability. However, the mechanical basis of these injuries remains poorly quantified, and existing models lack anatomical fidelity. To address this gap, a three-dimensional finite element (FE) framework was developed to characterize the mechanical interaction between CPAP prongs and neonatal nasal anatomy. Anatomically accurate head models representing infants aged 2 weeks and 4.5 months were reconstructed from MRI scans. Commercial prongs (sizes 3020-5560) were digitally replicated and inserted into each model. Using Abaqus/Explicit and a hyperelastic material properties for the neonatal soft tissue and prongs, simulations quantified von Mises normal stress, shear stress, and contact pressure at a standardized reaction force of approximately 0.005 N. Across all simulations, peak stress consistently localized to the columella, confirming it as the primary site of mechanical overload. |
| Poster: | View Poster #2 (PDF) |
| Judges Scoring: | Submit Evaluation (judges only) |