The procedure involves converting medical images of a patient’s heart into a 3D computer model that researchers can then 3D print using polymer-based inks. The result is a soft, flexible shell that precisely mimics the shape of the patient’s own heart. The team could also use this approach to print a patient’s aorta.
To mimic the pumping action of the heart, the team made blood pressure cuff-like sheaths that wrap around the imprinted heart and aorta. When the cuff is connected to a pneumatic system, the researchers can adjust the exhaust air to rhythmically inflate the cuff’s bubbles and contract the heart, mimicking the pumping function of the heart.
Researchers can also inflate a separate cuff surrounding the compressed aorta to narrow the vessel. They say this narrowing can be adjusted to mimic aortic stenosis, a condition in which the aortic valve narrows, causing the heart to work harder.
Source: Ferra
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.