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New soft robotic device ‘can help the heart to beat’
A customisable soft robot that fits around the heart and helps it to beat has been developed as a potential new therapeutic aid for people with cardiovascular problems.
Developed by Harvard University, the soft robotic sleeve is made of thin silicone and is equipped with soft pneumatic actuators placed around the heart to mimic its outer muscle layers. This system is tethered to an external pump, which uses air to power the actuators.
Unlike currently available devices designed to assist heart function, the sleeve makes no direct contact with the patient's blood, reducing the risk of clotting and eliminating the need for the user to rely on blood thinner medications.
Its customisable nature, meanwhile, means it can be individually tailored to specific needs. If the patient has greater weakness on the left side of the heart, for example, the actuators can be tuned to focus on that side, while pressure can also increase or decrease over time to account for changes in the patient's condition.
Ellen Roche, a former PhD student at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, said: "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."
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