Researchers used 3D printing to create a soft artificial heart for the first time

New technology enables the production of improved artificial organs
Swiss researchers have succeeded in creating a soft artificial heart with the help of a 3D printer. So far, existing artificial hearts had many disadvantages. The new manufacturing technique allows complex organs such as the human heart to be generated with the help of 3-pressure. These organs function better and resemble real organs of the human body in their function.

The scientists at ETH Zurich have succeeded in producing an artificial heart with the help of a 3D printer. The new soft artificial heart should come as close as possible to the natural model. The physicians published the results of their study in the journal "Artificial Organs".

Many people in the world suffer from problems with their heart. Perhaps some of those affected could be helped by the results of the new investigation. For the first time, researchers have succeeded in producing a soft heart with the help of a 3D printer. (Image: Adiano / fotolia.com)

What are the problems of artificial hearts made so far??
There are, of course, reasons why nature should be the model for new artificial hearts. For example, the mechanics of the previously created artificial hearts are very susceptible to interference. In addition, the previously produced artificial hearts have no pulse. The consequences for the body are still unclear, explain the scientists. So a newly developed heart should at best be about the same size, shape and function as a real human heart, the authors add. Another problem with previously manufactured hearts is that metal and plastic mechanisms are often difficult to integrate into the tissue. In addition, it could even lead to damage to the blood picture.

Swiss researchers create the first soft artificial heart
A small team at ETH, led by doctoral student Nicholas Cohrs, has now created the first soft artificial heart. The new heart also has a pumping mechanism in which the silicone valves pump like a real heart, the researchers say. The mechanism works similar to a real heart. Between the so-called ventricles lies a chamber which fills and empties. This creates a pumping action that simulates the muscle contraction of the human heart, the physicians add.

How is the artificial heart built??
The heart was created by so-called 3D printing. This technique allowed scientists to create a complex internal structure. Soft and flexible material is used for this. The whole artificial heart is an individual part, so there are no problems with how different internal mechanisms fit together, the authors explain. The only exceptions are at the entrances and exits where the blood enters and exits. The newly produced heart weighs 390 grams. It has a volume of 679 cc. Like a real heart, the artificial heart also consists of a right and a left half of the heart, the experts explain further.

Produced heart is so far only very briefly resilient
In various tests, the doctors were able to determine that the soft artificial heart works well. The artificial heart succeeded in successfully pumping a fluid resembling human blood. However, there is still a problem with the new artificial heart. So far, the material only holds about 3,000 strokes. This corresponds to a running time of about half to three quarters of an hour, explain the authors. After half an hour the material will be damaged by the load.

The newly developed heart Basis for a new concept
The aim of the research was not to create a heart that could be implanted directly, it was much more about thinking in a completely new direction in the development, say the experts from Switzerland. The resilience of the material and the performance must be significantly improved in the future. But the manufactured heart is proof that the new manufacturing concept works, the scientists add. "As a mechanical engineer, I never thought I would ever hold a soft artificial heart in my hands," explains Anastasios Petrou. "I am now so fascinated by this research that I would very much like to continue working on the development of artificial hearts," adds the expert. (As)