Supercomputer simulations of blood moving through the vasculature in the brain account for even the plasticity of individual blood cells. Take a look at this video by researchers from Brown University.
( Blood Flow: Multi-scale Modeling and Visualization )
Healthy red blood cells are smooth and elastic; they need to squeeze and bend through tiny capillaries to deliver blood to all areas of the brain. But malaria-infected cells stiffen and stick to the walls, creating blockages in arteries and vessels. Malaria victims die because their brain tissues are deprived of oxygen. A more complete picture of how blood moves through the brain would allow doctors to understand the progression of diseases that affect blood flow, like malaria, diabetes and HIV.
"Previous computer models haven't been able to accurately account for, say, the motion of the blood cells bending or buckling as they ricochet off the walls," said Joe Insley, a principal software developer at Argonne who is working with the team. "This simulation is powerful enough to incorporate that extra level of detail."
Take a look at just the first few seconds of the following trailer from Fantastic Voyage and see how close we were in 1966 to simulating the flow of blood.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!)
is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for
the Invention Category that interests
you, the Glossary, the Invention
Timeline, or see what's New.
Smart TVs Are Listening!
'You had to live -- did live, from habit that became instinct -- in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard...'
RoboShiko! Sumo Exercises Still Good For Robots
'... the expressionless face before me was therefore that of the golem-wrestler, Rolem, a creature that could be set for five times the strength of a human being.'