Analysis of erythrocyte aggregation mechanism in presence of dextran and magnetic field by ultrasound scattering in blood

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Swarnamani, S. | Singh, Megha

Affiliations: Biomedical Engineering Division, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras-600 036, India

Note: [] Accepted by: Editor E. Fukada

Abstract: Aggregation of erythrocytes is studied as function of time during their sedimentation process under the gravitational field. The method is based on ultrasonic scattering from the various blood samples in presence and absence of inhomogeneous magnetic field (IMF) and dextran 70 (10%). The experimental arrangement is consisting of ultrasonic transmitter and receiver probes placed in mutually perpendicular direction intersecting at the sampling volume of blood located at the centre of the blood column. The temporal kinetic process is represented in terms of histograms of amplitudes and number of scattering fluctuations related to the size and motion of aggregates. The results show that the application of IMF influences the aggregation and sedimentation of erythrocytes. The aggregates thus formed sediment faster than that of control sample. The aggregate formation and their movements in presence of dextran 70 are slower than that of normal blood which may be attributed to the enhanced suspending medium viscosity and their interaction with erythrocytes.

Keywords: Erythrocytes aggregation, ultrasound, scattering, histograms, dextran, inhomogeneous magnetic field

DOI: 10.3233/BIR-1989-26415

Journal: Biorheology, vol. 26, no. 4, pp. 847-862, 1989