Doctors commonly use vital signs to assess health, but a team at the University of Missouri argues that blood viscosity — the thickness and stickiness of blood — is a crucial, underused measure. Viscosity influences circulation and is associated with six of the top ten causes of death in the United States, such as heart disease, cancer and stroke. Thicker, slower blood can increase cardiac workload and the risk of clots or tissue damage.
The research group developed a non-invasive monitoring method that combines ultrasound waves with new signal-processing software. The device gently vibrates blood with a continuous sound wave, senses the response and applies a powerful algorithm to analyze how the sound moves through the body. The team reports that this approach improves accuracy and, for the first time, enables simultaneous measurement of both blood density and viscosity using the same signal. Readings are real time and do not require a blood draw, avoiding the changes that occur when samples are removed.
The sensing idea came from a system originally designed to monitor engine oil quality. Nilesh Salvi adapted those principles with guidance from Jinglu Tan, and William Fay urged clinical exploration. Potential medical uses include monitoring sickle cell anemia and tailoring transfusions or medication schedules to a patient’s real-time needs. The researchers are continuing studies, preparing for human trials, and note that the mainly software-based invention could run on inexpensive hardware, allowing affordable, portable or wearable devices. The study appears in the Journal of Dynamic Systems, Measurement, and Control.
Difficult words
- viscosity — Thickness and stickiness of a liquid
- circulation — Movement of blood through the body
- cardiac — Related to the heart and its function
- clot — A thick mass formed when blood hardensclots
- non-invasive — Not requiring instruments inside the body
- ultrasound — High-frequency sound waves used for imaging
- algorithm — A set of steps for solving a problem
- density — Amount of mass in a given volume
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How could real-time, non-invasive viscosity monitoring change treatment decisions for patients? Give reasons from the article.
- What are the possible benefits and challenges of making this mainly software-based invention available as a wearable device?
- The researchers adapted ideas from engine oil monitoring. What other everyday technologies might inspire medical devices, and why could that be useful?
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