The outer layer of the heart was made of silicon embedded with tiny sensors. The heart layer was made on a 3D printer Credit: Rogers et al
Utilizing a 3d printer, researchers have made a versatile layer that nearly emulates the external layer of the heart's wall.
The new membrane holds small sensors that can track the heart's temperature, ph and level of strain. The device could one day be used to treat patients with rhythm disorders in the lower chambers of the heart, as well as the rhythm disorder atrial fibrillation, the analysts said.
Heart rhythm irregularities are a typical problem, with one of the most well-known forms, atrial fibrillation, affecting 3 million to 5 million people in the U.S. yearly. Left untreated, rhythm irregularities can cause blood clots, which can prompt stroke.
People with atrial fibrillation are frequently treated with blood thinners or different medications that may remove the heart's pacemaker cells and replace them with electrodes. AT the same time, these techniques are fairly simplistic and don't give much feedback on the heart's condition.
The sensor-filled heart sleeve could one day be used to not only test for heart disease, but also to track the health of other organs, such as the kidneys, the specialists said. In addition, the sensors could one day measure an enzyme called troponin, a obvious marker of heart attacks. That could help doctors detect heart troubles significantly sooner than current tests.
This article is great. I'm not quite sure if it is being used now here in the Philippines but for sure, in the near future, Filipinos who might need it will not go to the U.S. just to take advantage of and experience it. 3D Printing industry now is really evolving, growing and becoming more in demand in different fields.
ReplyDelete