A team of scientists from Kaunas University conducted research that unveiled the impact of low-frequency ultrasound on blood parameters. The findings suggest that the influence of ultrasound on hemoglobin can enhance the transfer of oxygen from the lungs to the body’s tissues.
Blood – artistic visualization.
The study involved the analysis of 300 blood samples from 42 patients with lung diseases. These samples were examined in six different low-frequency ultrasound modes at the Mechatronics Institute of Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) in Lithuania.
Changes in 20 blood parameters were recorded using the blood test equipment in the laboratories of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU). Artificial intelligence methods, including analysis of variance (ANOVA), non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis method, and machine learning algorithms, were employed to predict the ultrasound effects, with calculations performed at the KTU Artificial Intelligence Center.
Professors Vytautas Ostaševičius and Vytautas Jūrėnas from KTU highlight ultrasound as a non-medicinal approach for treating circulatory diseases. While the scientific literature extensively discusses the impact of ultrasound on platelets related to blood clotting, the KTU research team found that ultrasound not only alters blood coagulation parameters but also influences red blood cells. This influence can enhance oxygen transport from the lungs to tissues and reduce blood pressure.
“During the action of low-frequency ultrasound, aggregated red blood cells dissociate into individual blood cells, and the hemoglobin molecules contained in them interact with oxygen on the entire surface of the blood cell, which improves blood oxygen saturation,” explains Professor V. Ostaševičius, head of the KTU Mechatronics Institute. The dissociation of single red blood cells reduces blood viscosity and blood pressure simultaneously due to the increased gaps between them.
The researchers emphasize that the impact of ultrasound on hemoglobin surpasses its effect on blood clotting, with additional analysis at LSMU’s Laboratory of Molecular Cardiology contributing to these findings.
“The findings from the research suggest that low-frequency ultrasound could be employed for patients with pulmonary hypertension to enhance oxygen saturation in the lungs. Considering the repercussions of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, we see significant potential to further explore the capabilities of the developed technology,” remarks Professor V. Ostaševičius.
The collaboration between medicine and engineering is yielding fruitful results. High-frequency ultrasound, operating between 2-12 MHz, is utilized in medicine for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Professor V. Jūrėnas explains that the acoustic waves emitted by high-frequency ultrasound have limited tissue penetration, leading to a greater impact on tissues than internal organs. In contrast, low-frequency ultrasound penetrates internal organs more deeply, with a more evenly distributed acoustic pressure.
Ultrasound’s applications in medicine are diverse, ranging from breaking up kidney stones to destroying cancer cells. Professor V. Jūrėnas suggests potential applications, such as using ultrasound to activate specific medicines or aiding the delivery of antibiotics to inflamed areas of the body.
The described research represents a successful collaboration between engineering and medical researchers. Another recent example is the development of a system for 3D positioning of the stereotaxic frame used in radiosurgery at the KTU Mechatronics Institute. This system immobilizes patients undergoing radiosurgery with the “Gamma knife” at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences.
“During such operations, it is necessary that the patient’s head is reliably anchored, as accuracy is particularly important here. Due to the serious condition of the patients, it is often difficult to immobilize them. Our proposed solution is already successfully used and patented,” says Prof. V. Jūrenas.
KTU researchers believe in achieving excellent results by leveraging knowledge from different fields and aim for continued productive cooperation with doctors. The article titled “Prediction of Changes in Blood Parameters Induced by Low-Frequency Ultrasound” is published in Issue 6 of the journal Applied System Innovation 2023, available here.
Written by Alius Noreika
Leave a Reply