Supercomputer simulates bones
Supercomputer simulates bones
2008-07-07Newsfeed
Scientists in Switzerland have used supercomputer technology to create highly detailed simulated human bone structures, a development which could help doctors in the early detection of osteoporosis.
Scientists in Switzerland have used supercomputer technology to create highly detailed simulated human bone structures, a development which could help doctors in the early detection of osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a bone disease which affects one in three women and one in five men over the age of 50. Early detection is crucial in order to prevent the progress of the disease.
Researchers from IBM and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich have used a BlueGene supercomputer to built intricate simulations of human bones and hope their work will lead to doctors being able to make crucial early diagnoses.
Doctors traditionally use special X-ray machines to detect osteoporosis, but results are not always accurate due to bones not being solid structures which means it is hard to determine their strength. In many cases, the disease is not diagnosed until a fracture has occurred, but by then it is already in an advanced stage and requires implants or surgical plates to treat or prevent further fractures.
Lead researcher Alessandro Curioni said the new technology allowed detailed analyses of exactly where the bone is the weakest and where it is likely to fracture. He estimated that desktop computers would have the power of today's supercomputers within a decade, allowing doctors to carry out bone-strength simulations in their offices.
Copyright © The Press Association 2008
