The Street: Jet engines inspire UC respiratory research

University of Cincinnati engineering professor Ephraim Gutmark is applying his knowledge of jet engines toward helping children with respiratory illnesses.

Gutmark is an Ohio Eminent Scholar and professor of aerospace engineering in UC's College of Engineering and Applied Science. For his latest project, he collaborated with Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Israel's Ben-Gurion University and Soroka Medical Center to develop new technology to unblock congested airways for patients suffering from asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other respiratory illnesses.

Researchers introduce air pressure and acoustic pulses into the airway and lungs, Gutmark told The Street.

"The combination of air pulsation and acoustic waves was shown to be effective in a series of lab test that simulated human airway and lungs," Gutmark said.

This technique holds special promise for clearing small airways, which have fewer effective treatments, researchers said.

Featured image at top: UC aerospace engineering professor Ephraim Gutmark works with a small jet engine in his laboratory. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II/UC Creative Services