3D imaging and airflow analysis to improve diagnosis of infant subglottic stenosis
Computer-Vision and Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis Pipeline to Improve Diagnosis in Pediatric Subglottic Stenosis
This project combines 3D airway models and airflow simulations to create clearer, personalized pictures of airway narrowing for infants with subglottic stenosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11173890 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, the team will use clinical imaging and endoscopy to build 3D reconstructions of a child's airway and apply computer-vision tools to measure obstruction size and location automatically. They will run computational fluid dynamics (airflow) simulations on those models to estimate breathing resistance and how the narrowing affects respiratory effort. The project may produce 3D-printed airway models to help surgeons visualize the problem and plan treatment. The goal is to move beyond the rough Cotton-Meyer grading to give doctors quantitative information that can guide better treatment decisions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Infants and young children with suspected or confirmed subglottic stenosis who have available endoscopy or cross-sectional imaging data are the most suitable candidates.
Not a fit: Children without relevant imaging or endoscopy data, those with different airway conditions, or patients whose care cannot incorporate imaging-based planning may not directly benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give families clearer, quantitative diagnoses and help doctors choose less invasive and more effective treatments earlier.
How similar studies have performed: Related 3D modeling and airflow simulation approaches have shown promise in adult airway and surgical planning, but applying automated computer vision and CFD specifically to pediatric subglottic stenosis is largely novel.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- Seattle Children's Hospital — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Barbour, Michael — Seattle Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Barbour, Michael
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.