The Finite Element Simulation of the Upper Airway of Patients with Moderate and Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome

Figure 5

ANSYS stress and flow simulation results. These were obtained from the FSI method. (a) The stress distribution under a constant pressure. (b) Under simulated breathing, an analysis of the maximum stresses reveals that the point of highest stress is located in the soft palate at the tip of the uvula. (c) Adding flow lines shows the general airflow through the upper airway in simulated breathing.

(a)

(b)

(c)