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Manisha Singh designs robotic replica of heart’s chamber

The robotic right ventricle (RRV) can currently accurately simulate realistic function for a few months.

Manisha Singh / LinkedIn @ManishaSingh

A team of MIT engineers, led by Manisha Singh, a postdoc at MIT’s Institute for Medical Engineering and Science (IMES), has created a robotic replica of the heart's right ventricle. The innovative development accurately mimics the rhythmic beating and blood-pumping action observed in living hearts.

According to researchers, the artificial ventricle is adaptable to replicate both healthy and diseased states. They have adjusted the model to simulate conditions associated with right ventricular dysfunction, such as pulmonary hypertension and myocardial infarction. The robotic right ventricle, or RRV, will provide a realistic platform for studying right ventricle disorders and serve as a valuable tool for testing devices and therapies intended to treat these disorders.

“The RRV simulator can be used in the future to study the effects of mechanical ventilation on the right ventricle and to develop strategies to prevent right heart failure in these vulnerable patients,” Singh said in a statement.

Currently, the robotic right ventricle (RRV) can accurately simulate realistic function for a few months. The research team is actively working to enhance this performance, aiming to enable the model to run continuously for more extended periods, a news release mentioned.

Additionally, they are collaborating with designers of implantable devices, utilizing the artificial ventricle to test prototypes. This collaboration aims to expedite the development and approval process, potentially accelerating the introduction of these devices to patients.

“With its ability to accurately replicate tricuspid valve dysfunction, the RRV serves as an ideal training ground for surgeons and interventional cardiologists.They can practice new surgical techniques for repairing or replacing the tricuspid valve on our model before performing them on actual patients,”” Singh said.
 

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