Medical technicians, room physicians and military medics may be better equipped to treat victims of gunshot wounds, battlefield injuries and vehicular accidents thanks to a new device that is in the works. The device can evaluate the effects of hemorrhage on an individual.
The research team currently working on the device development have demonstrated that the device could accurately evaluate blood loss through the measurement of seismic vibrations in an individuals’ thoracic cavity and also by detecting the changes in an individual’s heartbeat.
Associate professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Omer Inan, says that the team wants to develop a device that can be placed on an individual’s chest to determine if the patient is showing any signs that could indicate aggravated performance of their cardiovascular system as a result of bleeding.
The research was published in the Science Advances journal on July 22 and included partners from various institutions such as the University of Maryland. This research was also supported by the Office of Naval Research.
As most of us may not know, blood loss may be caused by various traumas. However, hemorrhage may not present as it should which may lead to it being overlooked by doctors and first responders. People who are going through trauma normally have elevated heartrates. However, blood pressure may sometimes remain stable till blood loss reaches a critical and fatal stage, which makes it harder for first responders to treat the individual.
Having a reliable medical device that can be used to noninvasively measure an injury and help responders triage victims correctly could go a long way in saving lives.
Jacob Kimball and Jonathan Zia, who are graduate students and Inan, used animal models to study electrical signals from the heart and seismic vibrations from the thoracic cavity as the blood volume reduced gradually. The researchers’ objective was to assess the signs of the performance of the cardiovascular system that could be measured externally then compare them with the information being provided by the catheters taking blood pressure and volume measurements.
They found that a seismocardiogram was the major indicator. However, the researchers noted that as the blood volume reduced, the timing of the heart’s activity changed, thus providing another cause of a weakened cardiovascular system.
The envisioned device will combine electrical and noninvasive mechanical measures to see how critical an individual’s blood loss is. An indicator on the device would also show the general condition of the individual’s cardiovascular system and how far the system is from collapsing. In the long-term, the team would like to carry out studies on humans and see how the device performs in real time.
This potentially life-saving invention is likely to attract attention from the entire biomedical field, including companies like CNS Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: CNSP).
About BioMedWire
BioMedWire (BMW) is a bio-med news and content distribution company that provides (1) access to a network of wire services via NetworkWire to reach all target markets, industries and demographics in the most effective manner possible, (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ news outlets (3), enhanced press release services to ensure maximum impact, (4) social media distribution via the Investor Brand Network (IBN) to nearly 2 million followers, (5) a full array of corporate communications solutions, and (6) a total news coverage solution with BMW Prime. As a multifaceted organization with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, BMW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. By cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, BMW brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. BMW is where news, content and information converge.
To receive SMS text alerts from BioMedWire, text “STOCKS” to 77948 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only)
For more information, please visit https://www.BioMedWire.com
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the BioMedWire website applicable to all content provided by BMW, wherever published or re-published: http://BMW.fm/Disclaimer
BioMedWire (BMW)
San Francisco, California
www.BioMedWire.com
415.949.5050 Office
Editor@BioMedWire.com
BioMedWire is part of the InvestorBrandNetwork.