What would you do if you had a heart attack that permanently damaged your heart? This is a question that many face every day. A patient facing these conditions is quite limited. The answer most people say is heart transplant. But, people can wait on lists for a long time waiting for an acceptable transplant. But, now, a new device has been invented. It’s a robotic heart that could save lives. The robotic heart, developed by Harvard University and Boston Children’s Hospital researchers, fits around a heart and helps it beat.
The soft robotic sleeve twists and compresses in synch with a beating heart, augmenting cardiovascular functions weakened by heart failure. Unlike currently available devices that assist heart function, Harvard’s soft robotic sleeve does not directly contact blood. This reduces the risk of clotting and eliminates the need for a patient to take potentially dangerous blood thinner medications. The device may one day be able to bridge a patient to transplant or to aid in cardiac rehabilitation and recovery.
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