A machine that uses dead hearts to simulate working of a live one will allow researchers to conduct experiments at a fraction of the cost of using live animals.
A new machine that makes an animal heart pump much like a live heart after it has been removed from the animal’s body, is set to revolutionise heart surgery.
Developed at the USbased North Carolina State University, the machine saves researchers time and money by allowing them to test their technologies without the costs and time associated with animal or clinical trials.
Currently, most medical device prototypes designed for use in heart surgery are tested on live pigs. However, these tests are both expensive, time-consuming, and involve a lengthy process to ensure that the use of live animals is necessary.
The computer-controlled machine, allows researchers to film the interior workings of the pumping heart – enabling them to ascertain exactly which surgical techniques perform best for repairing heart valves.
The machine, dubbed the ‘dynamic heart system’ – pumps fluid through a pig heart so that it functions in a very realistic way.
“Researchers can obtain pig hearts from a pork processing facility and use the heart system to test their prototypes or practice new surgical procedures,” says Andrew Richards, a Ph. D. student in mechanical engineering at NC State who designed the heart machine.
The system is much cheaper than testing on a live animal, which costs approximately $2,500, said Richards. “It costs approximately $25 to run an experiment on the machine,” he added.
By using the machine, researchers can determine if concepts for new surgical tools are viable before evaluating them on live animals. They can also identify and address any functional problems with new tools.
“There will still be a need for testing in live animal models,” says Dr. Greg Buckner, who directed the project, “but this system allows researchers to do ‘proof of concept’ evaluations, and refine the designs, before operating on live animals.”
The US National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute funded the development of the heart machine system.
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