STROKE THERAPY
Catching blood clots in a net
Instead of merely supporting blocked blood vessels, stents can also be used to fish clots out of the brain.
The form of the blood clot determines how well it sticks to the stent. | Image: D. Dumitriu LaGrange et al. (2022)
This inconspicuous clot has caused a stroke. Using a tiny wire tube (called a ‘stent’), doctors have been able to remove it from a blocked artery in the brain. This improves the patient’s chances of recovery. Daniela Dumitriu LaGrange from the University of Geneva has analysed several such blood clots under an electron microscope. She found that their form and composition determine how well they stick to the stent, and whether or not the method can be successful.
