KTU Ultrasound Breakthrough Blood Flow

Researchers at Kaunas University of Technology, led by Vytautas Ostaševičius, have made a significant breakthrough in understanding how ultrasound influences blood flow. Their study, published in Sensors (journal), reveals that low-frequency ultrasound can separate red blood cell clusters, decreasing blood viscosity and improving oxygen exchange. This contrasts with high-frequency ultrasound, which promotes aggregation. The research, inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic, involved developing a patented low-frequency ultrasound transducer capable of penetrating tissues four times deeper than conventional devices. This technology holds potential for non-invasive treatments in various medical fields, including improving oxygen delivery in Cancer therapy, temporarily opening the blood-brain barrier for drug delivery in Alzheimer s disease, and enhancing circulation for diabetic foot ulcers in Diabetes. The findings suggest a shift in ultrasound's role from purely diagnostic to an active therapeutic agent, potentially complementing or replacing existing treatments.