While doctors at major hospitals and university medical centers such as UCLA may take for granted easy access to archives of diagnostic images such as x-rays and consultation with a large network of peers, physicians in smaller hospitals often do not enjoy resources of this scope. Brain surgeons may benefit from research being conducted under the direction of Computer Science Professor Walter J. Karplus. He and a team of UCLA researchers have developed a computer simulation system that provides accurate images of blood flow and turbulence inside aneurysms, weak spots in arteries which can make them bulge and rupture, causing a stroke. UCLA doctors have developed an endovascular technique for repairing brain aneurysms in which a coil of soft platinum wire is inserted via a catheter into the bubble-like protrusion at the weak spot of the artery. Once in place, a small electrical current is applied to the platinum wire filament to detach it from the catherter, which is then removed.
Blood clots form around the filament, stabilizing the aneurysm.
The technique is promising but has its risks. Performing the procedure in the wake of a pulsating, turbulent flow of blood, surgeons risk rupturing the thin artery wall, which could cause instant death. Professor Vijay Gupta of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering is working to develop more durable artificial hip joints. A relatively common procedure, hip replacement removes weak or damaged joints and replaces them with a steel shank and a ball joint made of plastics, metal and composites. To ensure that the surfaces of joint components turn smoothly and withstand the continual friction of movement, they are coated with a thin layer of an extremely tough plastic, metal or composite material.