For years, doctors have used known vital indicators to monitor a patient’s health. Such as heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, and oxygen levels. However, researchers at the University of Missouri feel one important parameter has been overlooked: blood viscosity, or how thick or sticky blood is as it moves through the body. They have now devised a game-changing solution for non-invasive, real-time monitoring.
The study is published in the Journal of Dynamic Systems, Measurement, and Control.
Viscosity has an underappreciated but critical role in health. It is associated to six of the top ten most common causes of mortality in the United States, including heart disease, cancer, and stroke.
From Oil to Blood
Salvi, who received his master’s and doctoral degrees from Mizzou’s College of Engineering, first built the device to check engine oil condition. Building on that discovery, he developed a startup company that creates engine sensors that monitor lubricants in real time.
According to Nilesh Salvi, a research scientist at Mizzou’s College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources. And the project’s lead author, thick, sluggish blood causes the heart to work harder. And increases the risk of clots or tissue damage.
The first-of-its-kind technology uses ultrasound waves to assess blood viscosity in real time. But the major breakthrough is in the software. The technology works by gently vibrating blood with a continuous sound wave. That means it transmits a consistent sound wave through the blood while also monitoring its response. Then, a clever algorithm examines how the sound travels through the body.
The invention is fundamentally based on advanced mathematics and signal processing. This method enhances accuracy and, for the first time, allows for simultaneous assessment of blood density and viscosity using the same signal.
William Fay, a professor of medical pharmacology and physiology at Mizzou’s School of Medicine, was one of the first to encourage Salvi to investigate the technology’s therapeutic applications. His mentorship enabled Salvi and his team to connect their engineering work to biomedical studies.
The findings could transform how doctors treat disorders like sickle cell anemia. That has abnormal shaped blood cells increasing viscosity and jeopardizing organ function. Instead of depending on periodic intervals, continuous monitoring could assist customize transfusions. And drugs to each patient’s unique needs in real time.
