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Related Concept Videos

Development of the Heart01:27

Development of the Heart

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The development of the human heart, a crucial organ, commences from the mesoderm on the 18th or 19th day after fertilization. This process initiates in the cardiogenic area, a group of mesodermal cells at the embryo's head end, which evolves into elongated strands known as cardiogenic cords. These cords undergo a transformation to form hollow-centered endocardial tubes.
As the embryo undergoes lateral folding, these paired tubes approach each other, merging into a single primitive heart...
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Heart Valves01:16

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The human heart is a complex organ with an intricate system of valves that regulate blood flow. There are two main types of valves: atrioventricular (AV) valves and semilunar valves.
The AV valves prevent the backflow of blood from the ventricles to the atria during ventricular contraction. These valves function with the assistance of the chordae tendineae and papillary muscles. When the ventricles are relaxed, the chordae tendineae are slack, allowing blood to flow from the atria into the...
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Motor Unit Stimulation01:20

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When the neuron of a motor unit fires an action potential, it triggers a series of events, leading to a twitch contraction in the muscle fibers. The process of excitation-contraction coupling is crucial in relaying the action potential to the muscle fibers.
The latent period of contraction marks the onset of excitation-contraction coupling, when the action potential propagates across the sarcolemma, preparing the muscle fibers for contraction. As the fibers enter the contraction phase, the...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 8, 2026

Author Spotlight: Enhancing Grasping Abilities for Hemiplegic Patients with Flexible Robotic Limbs
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Author Spotlight: Enhancing Grasping Abilities for Hemiplegic Patients with Flexible Robotic Limbs

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Soft robotic sleeve supports heart function.

Ellen T Roche1,2,3, Markus A Horvath1,2,4, Isaac Wamala5

  • 1School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, 29 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.

Science Translational Medicine
|January 20, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed a soft robotic sleeve that assists heart function without blood contact. This novel cardiac ventricular assist device mimics heart muscle, reducing clotting and infection risks for heart failure patients.

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Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Soft Robotics
  • Cardiovascular Devices

Background:

  • Implantable devices are needed to assist biological functions like heart muscle contraction.
  • Current ventricular assist devices face complications such as clotting and infection due to blood contact.
  • A soft, form-fitting device mimicking native heart mechanics is desirable.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and evaluate a soft robotic sleeve as a cardiac ventricular assist device.
  • To design a device that avoids blood contact, thereby reducing anticoagulation therapy and associated risks.
  • To create a device with mechanical properties similar to native heart tissue.

Main Methods:

  • A biologically inspired design was employed, orienting actuators in helical and circumferential layers.
  • The soft robotic sleeve was implanted around the heart in a porcine model.
  • The device's ability to compress and twist to assist cardiac function was assessed.

Main Results:

  • The soft robotic sleeve successfully mimicked the form and function of the native heart.
  • The device exhibited a stiffness comparable to heart tissue.
  • Feasibility was demonstrated in a porcine model of acute heart failure, supporting cardiac function.
  • The sleeve design avoids direct blood contact, mitigating risks of clotting and infection.

Conclusions:

  • The soft robotic sleeve represents a promising, blood-contact-free cardiac ventricular assist device.
  • This technology has the potential to reduce complications associated with current ventricular assist devices.
  • Customizable soft robotic sleeves could serve as a bridge to transplant for heart failure patients.