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Imagine a tool that transforms how we approach heart disease conditions like mitral valve insufficiency. Scientists have now brought this vision to life with a biorobotic hybrid heart. This advanced simulator, beating like a real heart, marks a significant leap in cardiac research and the testing of medical devices.
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Biorobotic Heart Credit: Mossab Y. Saeed
An artificial heart Simulator
According to an article published in the journal Device, scientists have created a Biorobotic hybrid heart that beats like a real heart, which could revolutionize research in the field.
However before a medical device can be used in a real patient, it must first be thoroughly tested for safety and effectiveness. For procedures involving the heart, researchers currently have two options: simulators and animal models.
Current simulators are short-lived because they can only be used for a few hours and cannot fully reproduce all the structures that make up a heart. Although animal studies are still very useful in many areas of medical research, they are expensive, time-consuming, and controversial.
What are the benefits of the new artificial heart Simulator?
To find other ways to study the human heart, researchers designed a new simulator.
“Our simulator has a huge advantage for people studying different heart valve conditions and interventions,” the lead researcher said in a statement. “When working with patients, you cannot visualize the process because there is blood in the heart. With the simulator, the blood is transparent so that you can see all the steps,” he continued.
New artificial heart tested for mitral insufficiency
To test his new artificial heart, his team focused on a condition called mitral insufficiency, which affects an estimated 24.2 million people worldwide. In this case, the mitral valve, located between the left atrium and the left ventricle, does not close properly, allowing blood to flow in the wrong direction.
Using a pig heart as a base, the researchers removed the thick muscle surrounding the left ventricle and replaced it with a robotic silicone pump. When the pump is inflated, the heart compresses and twists, just as a real muscle would.
By damaging the mitral valve to the point that it leaks, the team was able to have cardiac surgeons intervene in the biorobotic heart and test three different surgical techniques to fix the problem: anchoring the valve tissue so it doesn’t leak; implanting a device to make the valve close properly; replacing the entire valve with a prosthesis.
“Our artificial heart can serve as a surgical training platform for clinicians and medical students. It can also enable engineers to study their new designs and even help patients better understand their own disease and treatments,” the researchers conclude.
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Final Thoughts
In wrapping up, the advent of this biorobotic hybrid heart is a game-changer for cardiology. It’s not just about replicating heart conditions; it’s about revolutionizing treatment strategies. Take mitral valve repair: now, cardiologists can perfect their techniques in a risk-free setting, paving the way for more successful, patient-safe procedures. This isn’t just progress; it’s a leap toward a future where heart disease is no longer a formidable foe.
References
Park, C., Singh, M., Saeed, M. Y., Nguyen, C. T., & Roche, E. T. (2024, January 10). Biorobotic hybrid heart as a benchtop cardiac mitral valve simulator. Device. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.device.2023.100217
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