Forschungsbericht

Third-party-funded project

Title:
Ultrasound modelling of metallic components: Projekt C5: Biological compatibility of ultrasound

Project management at the University of Würzburg:

PD Dr. Ralf Dieler ,Mail: r.dieler@mail.uni-wuerzburg.de

Participating scientists:

Dr. Wafaa Shehata-Dieler ,Mail: hnok038@mail.uni-wuerzburg.de
Dr. Uwe Maisa , Inst. für Biomed. Technik, Univ. Stuttgart,Mail: um@bmt.uni-stuttgart.de

Abstract:
Sound exceeding 20 kHz and thus the human audible frequency range is termed ultrasound (US). US applications are strongly expanding in medicine and industrial workplaces. Though both, damaging effects and safe levels of exposure have been established for high frequency US applications in medicine, almost no knowledge is available regarding the biological compatibility of low frequency ultrasound (LFUS) that is mainly used in industry. Therefore, the question if exposure to LFUS in the 20 - 100 kHz range causes significant health hazards for people working with US emitting machinery and spending extended periods of time in an US polluted environment becomes increasingly important. Potential damages of LFUS to the inner ear are examined using an animal model.

Key words:
    ultrasound
    low frequency ultrasound
    biological compatibility
    inner ear

Projekt period: from 01.1998 to 12.2001

Funding institution:
DFG

Publications:

Nagel JH, Nagel M, Dieler R, Hagen R. (1999). Biological effects and health hazards of low frequency ultrasound. In Proceedings of the 4th Asia-Pacific Conference on Medical & Biological Engeneering, Seoul, Korea: 112-113 . (conference publication)
Maisa U, Hagen R, Nagel J, Dieler R. (2000). High intensity low frequency ultrasound damages the inner ear - further results in the animal model with guinea pigs.. In 4th European Congress of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery . Monduzzi, Bologna. (conference publication)