By applying mathematical techniques and electrical circuit basics to CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Vladimir Protopopescu and Suzanne Lenhart believe they can help save lives. "Rates of success with lay or professional rescuer CPR are amazingly low," said Protopopescu, who noted that the way CPR is applied has not changed fundamentally since it was introduced. With that in mind, Protopopescu, Lenhart, Eunok Jung, now at Konkuk University in South Korea, and Charles Babbs, a physician/Ph.D. at Purdue University, have developed optimal control techniques on a system of discrete blood flow equations tailored to each part of the body. Each equation describes the pressure changes in systemic vascular compartments caused by chest compression. Ultimately, they see their research leading to a portable customized machine that would optimize the CPR procedure by applying principles of optimal control theory. DOE's Office of Basic Energy Sciences and the Laboratory Directed Research and Development program have funded this research.
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