CT scan of neonate airways - very useful in vitro tool - help needed.

[rmacloughlin]

Good evening all,

I have a keen interest in aerosol delivery to neonates and am trying to characterise the levels of aerosol deposition in these children's lungs. As you may know, there are not too many in vivo studies characterising aerosol deposition in this population and so I need to rely on preclinical and in vitro work.

Over the last number of months, I have been trying to source CT scans of preterm (ELBW, LBW) neonates with a mind to creating a cast model using a rapid prototype machine, similar to The Sophia Anatomical Infant Nose-Throat (Saint) model (9 mth old).

Unfortunately, I have found these CT scans are hard to source.

I am reaching out to the group to see if any of you may have access to CT scans of preemies and newborns and would be willing to collaborate in creating this useful in vitro model.

MRI scans do not have sufficient resolution and so it must be CT however, I appreciate that CT scanning in this population can be unusual.

I am interested in CT scans of “normal” naso- and oro-pharynx airways if at all possible (possibly imaged for other issues).

Sincerely yours,

rmacloughlin

Disclosure....just in case it is needed. I am not a clinician. I work with a nebuliser R&D company. This particular project i.e. aerosol delivery to neonates and the generation of a cast model are my own particular focus and niche)