MIT engineers have created a realistic robotic replica of the heart’s right ventricle, combining real heart tissue with synthetic, balloon-like artificial muscles. The model, known as the robotic right ventricle (RRV), allows scientists to control contractions and study natural valves and structures. The RRV can simulate healthy and diseased states, aiding in the development of heart implants and the understanding of understudied heart disorders. Researchers tested the model by simulating conditions like right ventricular dysfunction, using it to test cardiac devices, including mechanical valves. The RRV serves as a platform for studying and treating right ventricle disorders, particularly in intensive care unit settings. The researchers aim to extend the model’s performance and eventually pair it with an artificial left ventricle for a fully tunable, artificial heart. The study was published in Nature Cardiovascular Research and supported by the National Science Foundation
December 11, 2023