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Robotic Sleeve Mimics Muscles To Keep a Heart Beating (seeker.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the dramatic-reenactment dept.

randomErr writes: 5.7 million adults in the United States have heart failure each year with about 41 million worldwide. Currently, treatment involves surgically implanting a mechanical pump, called a ventricular assist device (VAD), into the heart. The VAD helps maintains the heart's function. But patients with VADs are at high risk for getting blood clots and having a stroke. Researchers at Harvard University and Boston Children's Hospital have created a soft robotic sleeve that doesn't have to be implanted. The robotic sleeve slips around the outside of the heart, squeezing it in sync with the natural rhythm. "This work represents an exciting proof of concept result for this soft robot, demonstrating that it can safely interact with soft tissue and lead to improvements in cardiac function," Conor Walsh, said in a press statement. Seeker reports: "The sleeve they developed is made from thin silicone and attaches to the outside of the heart with a combination of suction devices and sutures. It relies on soft, air-powered actuators that twist and compress in a way that's similar to the outer layer of muscle of a human heart. A gel coating reduces any friction between the sleeve and the organ. Because the sleeve is soft and flexible, it can be customized to fit not just the size and shape of individual hearts, but augment the organ's weaknesses. For example, if a patient's heart is weaker on the left side than the right, the sleeve can be tuned to squeeze with more authority on the left side. As the organ gains strength, the device can be adjusted." The study has been published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

23 of 41 comments (clear)

  1. Which is it? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Doesn't need to be implanted.
    Slips around the heart.
    So it's an implant.

    1. Re: Which is it? by mmell · · Score: 1

      SchrÃdinger's device.

    2. Re: Which is it? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      It's implanted in the asshole?

    3. Re: Which is it? by Cinnamon+Beige · · Score: 1

      I'm not sure how to break this to you, but the heart is inside the body. This goes around the heart. This is an implant, unless the definition of implant has suddenly and inexplicably changed from "stuffs what you open up the body, insert, and leave for some period of time."

    4. Re:Which is it? by sjames · · Score: 1

      No idea where TFA got the idea it isn't an implant. It IS a less invasive implant since it doesn't come in to contact with circulating blood and so doesn't require blood thinners and run the risk of clotting, but it's certainly an implant.

    5. Re: Which is it? by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 1

      I'm not sure how to break this to you, but the heart is inside the body. This goes around the heart. This is an implant, unless the definition of implant has suddenly and inexplicably changed from "stuffs what you open up the body, insert, and leave for some period of time."

      Yep, that's what jumped out at me- it's inside the body but somehow it's not an "implant"? Sure sounds like an implant to me.

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    6. Re: Which is it? by davester666 · · Score: 1

      That just happens to be where AC's heart is.

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    7. Re: Which is it? by Pascoea · · Score: 1

      Suspect they meant it's not implanted directly into the heart, just into the chest cavity instead.

      I suspect you are right, but yeah, bad summary. I'd think it would be significantly less invasive, risky. Assuming they'd have to stop the heart to install a typical pump, but would not have to do so for this system. I was with a company that worked on a similar system a long time ago, and I seem to remember one of the selling points they were after is that it could be installed without stopping the heart.

    8. Re:Which is it? by Thelasko · · Score: 1

      Doesn't need to be implanted. Slips around the heart. So it's an implant.

      Yeah, it's confusing. I think they mean they don't have to cut into the heart as they do with a VAD. So while it's implanted in the body. It's not implanted in the heart.

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  2. Wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It's not often we get something so transformational in medicine. This device, and its future iterations could ultimately proove to eliminate death by heart disease. People will get this implanted at their 55th birthday check up. A leading cause of death eliminated and single handedly increase life expectancy by 15 years.

    1. Re:Wow by MBGMorden · · Score: 2

      Not only do things like this take batteries, but the human body is a surprisingly well evolved "machine". If you got one of these merely as a preventative measure the odds are likely great that the device would break before the heart it was supposed to assist did.

      Granted, for people already having trouble I'm sure it'll be great, but I don't see it as being some routine precautionary thing.

      --
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    2. Re: Wow by ArmoredDragon · · Score: 1

      If you have a better treatment option, then by all means, release it.

    3. Re: Wow by ArmoredDragon · · Score: 1

      That might be beneficial to your liver, but likely won't have a big impact on heart health. Even if it did, it would only be good advice for a younger age to mitigate (but not prevent) the possibility of heart disease when you're 60 or older. It certainly won't do you any favors if you have any congenital heart diseases.

  3. MAY I? by Provocateur · · Score: 1

    *clears throat*
    (Farnsworth)Good news, everyone!(/Farnsworth)

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  4. counterproductive ? by swell · · Score: 2

    "5.7 million adults in the United States have heart failure each year "

    You'd think these people would be proactive so that they don't have yet another heart failure next year. But let's question another statement in TFS:

    "As the organ gains strength, the device can be adjusted." I've learned, and seen from my own experience, that tissues can atrophy if not fully exercised. Muscles and even tree trunks gain strength by flexing, applying and/or resisting force. Dependence on this 'sleeve' seems counterproductive to gaining strength.

    Let's have more study in THIS area: "Researchers in the US and China have developed a durable 'synthetic stem cell' that can repair tissue damaged by a heart attack." - in the news this month from http://www.bionews.org.uk/page... and elsewhere.

    --
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    1. Re:counterproductive ? by sjames · · Score: 4, Informative

      While use it or lose it is very real in biological systems, that applies to healthy muscle. In the case of heart failure, sometimes a period of rest and recovery is necessary. When the LVAD was first put into use, it was thought it would be just a bridge to transplant or at best a permanent implant. However, surprising to everyone, some patient's natural heart recovered once given a bit of a rest to the point that the device could be explanted with no need for a transplant.

    2. Re:counterproductive ? by cyberchondriac · · Score: 1

      One thing that makes me cringe is the gel that's supposed to reduce friction between the device and the heart. If that managed to dry up, I can't imagine what that'd feel like.. or at least, I don't want to.

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  5. This won't be used as much as you might expect by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    The thing with heart surgery is that it requires opening the thoracic cavity which is usually quite traumatic. I've lost family members to known correctable heart conditions simply because they were too old and frail to endure heart surgery. If you have any sort of heart issue that can be corrected surgically get it taken care of while you are still young enough to make a full recovery. Perhaps some enterprising surgeon will figure out a technique to implant these devices as a laparoscopic procedure but I wouldn't bank on it.

  6. It's too soon! by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 2

    All I'm asking is for this fantastic advancement in medical technology to be delayed for about 10 years. No offence grampas of the world but you've made a mess of things and we're kinda counting on you all kicking the bucket as soon as possible so we can fix it. If there is any regulatory agency out there that could keep this back for a while using it's red tape, that would be fantastic. Sorry gramps, you haven't earned it. ;)

    --
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    1. Re:It's too soon! by javilon · · Score: 1

      Do you realize you are talking about persons, right?

      By your logic, if you make a mistake, we should stop giving you medical procedures?

      --


      When his defense asked, "Which computer has Jon Johansen trespassed upon?" the answer was: "His own."
  7. It always leads the way. by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 1

    Soft rubbery thing that contracts regularly that you can slip over a muscle. Or a "muscle"?

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    1. Re:It always leads the way. by ZOMFF · · Score: 1

      I'm glad I'm not the only that looked at this from the Fap Improvements perspective.

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  8. This isn't how muscles get stronger. by Bartles · · Score: 1

    For example, if a patient's heart is weaker on the left side than the right, the sleeve can be tuned to squeeze with more authority on the left side. As the organ gains strength, the device can be adjusted."

    The device should assist the stronger side, making the weak side work harder so it get's stronger. Much like doctors cover the strong eye to treat amblyopia.