Since the 1950s, doctors have been using artificial heart implants to provide vital life-saving support for patients who are suffering from heart failure. However, the implants can become clogged over time, and the patient may eventually require a new one. Now, Researchers at MIT have developed a soft robotic heart model that could help clinicians zero in on the best implant for an individual. The procedure involves first converting medical images of a patient’s heart into a three-dimensional computer model, which the researchers can then 3D print using a polymer-based ink.
MIT’s “biorobotic hybrid heart” springs back to life after closure due to Covid-19 pandemic
MIT’s “biorobotic hybrid heart” was developed in January 2020 by mechanical engineering professor Ellen Roche and team members. The Covid-19 pandemic forced the closure of the lab, but Rosalia continued tweaking the heart-pumping design at home.
The lab reopened shortly after and the team continued where it left off, working to improve the control of the heart-pumping sleeve. They then turned to 3D printing to create sleeves and hearts that are specific to individual patients. There is a lot of interest in the medical field in using 3D printing technology to accurately recreate patient anatomy for use in preprocedural planning and training.
MIT team creates cardiac replicas using 3D printing and AI
When it comes to cardiac care, there are a variety of patient types that need attention. With 3D printing and artificial intelligence (AI), the MIT team was able to create replicas of individual hearts that function just like the originals.
These cardiac replicas could help researchers develop and improve treatments for individuals with unique heart structures. In addition, they were able to replicate some of the therapies that were successful for a handful of the patients.
This research was supported in part by the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Heart Lung Blood Institute. It is important to note that this technology can be used for both medical research and patient care.
MIT’s “biorobotic hybrid heart” springs back to life after closure due to Covid-19 pandemic. The heart was printed using 3D printing and artificial intelligence, and it is an impressive achievement- it even looks and pumps just like a real human heart. This is a huge step forward in the development of prosthetic hearts, and could help solve some of the challenges faced with current heart technology.
