Both physical and chemical factors can influence the activity of platelets and coagulation
factors responsible for the formation of thrombotic and hemostatic masses in the vicinity of
an injured vessel wall. Studies performed in controlled shear devices (viscometers) have
indicated that physical factors alone can induce platelet aggregation, even in the absence of
exogenous chemical factors. The physical considerations which appear to be important for
the local activation of hemostatic/thrombotic mechanisms appear to be related to the …