Planetary geologists studying how molten metal coagulates at the center of planets while they are forming have discovered that their research can also be used to investigate blood flow in the human hear
Artist’s impression of the proto-planetary disk
Using the same type of model, the scientists were able to show doctors in the UK where the patient’s blood was gathering in a pool in their heart due to a blood clot. Doctors confirmed the clot and successfully treated the patient
We were able to look at blood flow in the same way we looked at the flow of metal
Surgeons already suspected there was an area of stagnant blood that could cause a blood clot but could not be sure where. By scanning the images from the MRI scan into the computer simulation, the researchers were able to predict the clot’s location.
Doctors now hope the technology can be developed so it can be used routinely to analyze scans from heart patients
clipped from: www.universetoday.com 