AI technology could be used to detect potentially deadly blood clots before they strike.

That's according to scientists at the University of Tokyo, who say they have created a non-invasive way to observe clotting activity in blood as it occurs.

The new artificial intelligence tool uses a powerful microscope to monitor platelets in real time, the researchers shared in a press release from the university.

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

Platelets, which are tiny blood cells that help form clots to stop bleeding, play a "crucial role" in heart disease, particularly coronary artery disease, according to Dr. Kazutoshi Hirose, lead author of the study.

If the platelet count is too high, it can increase the risk of blood clots.

To prevent dangerous clots, patients with coronary artery disease are usually treated with anti-platelet drugs.

"However, it's still challenging to accurately evaluate how well these drugs are working in each individual, which makes monitoring platelet activity an important goal for both doctors and researchers," Hirose said in the press release.

How the tool works

Traditional methods of monitoring platelet activity often rely on indirect measurements or invasive procedures.

With the AI tool, a high-powered microscope works like a "super-high-speed camera that takes sharp pictures of blood cells in flow," said Yuqi Zhou, assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Tokyo, in the release. Full article: https://www.foxnews.com/health/ai-breakthrough-allows-doctors-see-dangerous-blood-clots-forming