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R&D  Researchers Study Clot Mechanics Using Specially Designed
Microfluidic Device  Published on November 8, 2012 at 4:27 AM
The disease atherosclerosis involves the build up of fatty
tissue within arterial walls, creating unstable structures known
as plaques. These plaques grow until they burst, rupturing the
wall and causing the formation of a blood clot within the
artery. These clots also grow until they block blood flow; in
the case of the coronary artery, this can cause a heart attack.
This is a custom microfluidic device the research team used to
observe the flow-dependent clotting behavior. (Credit:
University of Pennsylvania)  New research from the University of
Pennsylvania has shown that clots forming under arterial-flow
conditions have an unexpected ability to sense the surrounding
blood moving over it. If the flow stops, the clot senses the
decrease in flow and this triggers