Scientists in Lithuania have developed a new device that can quickly improve oxygen levels in the lungs and lower blood pressure—all without surgery or medication.
This breakthrough could help people suffering from lung-related illnesses, including COVID-19, which can cause dangerous changes in lung blood flow.
The study, carried out by researchers from Kaunas universities, used a low-frequency ultrasound device designed at the Kaunas University of Technology (KTU).
Unlike most current ultrasound machines, which mainly produce one type of vibration, this new device uses a different vibration mode that allows it to reach deeper into the body. This means the ultrasound waves can affect internal organs more effectively.
According to the scientists, the device was tested on sheep and showed impressive results in just seven minutes. Oxygen levels in the lungs went up by more than 10–15%, while blood pressure and heart rate went down.
The study was done at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, where tests showed that the new device’s ultrasound waves penetrate four times deeper than those of older machines.
KTU professors Vytautas Ostaševičius and Vytautas Jūrėnas, who led the research, believe the invention could become a powerful tool to treat pulmonary hypertension.
This condition causes high blood pressure in the lungs and can lead to serious heart problems. Right now, it is mainly treated with drugs, but this new device might offer a fast and non-invasive alternative.
The way it works is clever. The ultrasound waves travel through the blood and break up clusters of red blood cells, separating them into single cells. Each red blood cell carries about 300 million hemoglobin molecules, which are responsible for carrying oxygen.
When these cells are no longer stuck together, more hemoglobin molecules are exposed to oxygen, making the lungs more efficient at absorbing it.
The process also helps the body get rid of carbon dioxide more quickly and lowers blood pressure. This happens because individual red blood cells take up less space than clumped cells, which reduces the thickness—or viscosity—of the blood. Lower blood viscosity means blood flows more easily, reducing strain on the heart and arteries.
High-frequency ultrasound, which is commonly used in medicine today, can actually make red blood cells stick together by creating standing waves.
These standing waves encourage cell clumping, which is linked to several health problems including infections and even cancer. In contrast, the new low-frequency ultrasound does the opposite by gently shaking the cells apart.
The KTU research team is now working with doctors to explore more uses for their device. One idea is using ultrasound to safely insert drugs into red blood cells directly in the body, avoiding the need to process blood outside the body. They are also looking into using it to break up blood clots and treat heart valve disease.
The study was published in the journal Respiratory Research and shows the potential for a whole new range of medical treatments using sound waves.
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