Heart failure can be prevented by robotic sleeves

Scientists at Harvard have developed a promising new approach to prevent heart failure. They have been able to attach "robotic sleeves" around pig hearts, which by pumping air in a certain rhythm can synchronise with the movements of the heart and maintain the pumping if the heart fails.

In people with heart failure the body is not able to pump the blood well around the body. However this robotic device made of silicon stiffens and relaxes, depending on its inflation with air.

Whenever the pig hearts stopped beating, the sleeves were capable of restoring the pumping and restoring the blood flow.

In view of the shortage of hearts for heart transplants, this is a promising alternative to provide relief to heart patients.

The article was published in Science Translational Medicine. You can find it here.

Image from http://www.bbc.com/news/health-38651596

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