Robots Are Mending Broken Hearts
Soft Robot Sleeve Mimics Real Heart Movement
Around the world, over 40 million people suffer from heart failure, approximately 200 people receive heart transplants each year in Canada, while 600,000 Canadians suffer from heart failure and 50,000 new cases are reported annually. The limited quantity of hearts available for transplants leave many suffering citizens with no viable options. Researcher Ellen Roche alongside biomedical engineers from Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard University have been developing a mechanical alternative; this development of a soft robotic sleeve is fitted around the heart, where it mimics movements, pumps, squeezes and compresses the heart’s chambers in the way a healthy functioning heart does.
“This research demonstrates that the growing field of soft robotics can be applied to clinical needs and potentially reduce the burden of heart disease and improve the quality of life for patients,” said Ellen T. Roche
Heart transplants are the best option for people with heart failure that is no longer responding to medication. As statistics prove there aren’t enough donors out there, so the current technology causes for many patients have to rely on VADs (ventricular assist devices). Although this product is just in the beginning stages as a prototype and needs a lot more testing, the concept that it could replace VADs and be a more effective and efficient way to keep blood flowing as people await transplants is intriguing. To use a new device that doesn’t come into contact with blood and uses air pressure to mimic a hearts patterns. This separation from the blood stream means less blood thinners and medications are necessary.
The success seen in the recent trial on a failing pig heart, means there is hope for this technology to end up in the human body one day. However, many more stages of research, testing and development are in progress, meaning the time frame on a project of this magnitude will be long and slow moving. This is the first of many triumphs for this soft robotic technology as it is making waves in the medical community worldwide. As developments continue, we have only seen the beginning of what is to come of this innovative machinery.
