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Medical soft robots represent a promising field in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, offering a potential for millions of patients suffering from heart failure worldwide. In this context, we present our work and review the current state and future direction of artificial muscle-based soft robotic biomedical devices that support the inotropic function of the heart, with a particular focus on emerging electrothermal and pnumatic powered artificial heart muscles. These artificial muscle-powered soft robotic devices are capable of mimicking the actions of complex biological systems, such as heart compression and twisting. Their unique ability to undergo complex deformations allows them to aid cardiac function while maintaining a limited weight and efficient use of space. Two highly promising candidates for artificial muscles include electrothermally actuated artificial heart muscles and biohybrid actuators that utilize living cells or tissue embedded with artificial structures. Electrothermally actuated artificial heart muscles have demonstrated superior force generation and present the prospect of fully soft robotic actuated ventricular assist devices. This review critically analyzes the limitations of currently available devices and discusses opportunities and directions for future research.
Prof. Arjang Ruhparwar, MD (Medizinische Hochschule Hannover)
Arjang Ruhparwar graduated in 1994 as a medical doctor at the University of Cologne, Germany. He spent two years at Indiana University and completed his training in cardiac surgery at Hannover Medical School in 2004. Moving to the University of Heidelberg in 2006, he was Head of the Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support program and later he became Vice-Chairman of the Department of Cardiac Surgery. In 2019, he became Chairman of the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at the University of Duisburg/Essen, Germany. Since April 2023, he is the Head of the Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery at Hannover Medical School. His main interests are Aortic surgery, Mechanical support systems, Heart transplantation, Tissue Engineering, Robotics, Regenerative Therapy, and Nano technology.
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