Researchers from AMOLF and UMC Utrecht have developed a prototype of the world’s first fully soft artificial heart. Built in the Netherlands, this heart mimics natural heartbeat movements using soft robotics. The innovation offers a life-saving alternative for patients with severe heart failure and marks a major breakthrough in medical technology.
Scientists at AMOLF and UMC Utrecht have created a world-first: a fully soft, robotic artificial heart prototype. Unlike conventional mechanical hearts, this version contains no rigid components. Instead, it uses fluid-powered actuators to replicate the natural beating motion of the human heart. The result is a biocompatible system that’s less invasive and better suited to the body. This development responds to a critical medical need: a sustainable, tissue-friendly solution for heart failure patients.
This soft robotics innovation could revolutionize heart failure treatment. Its ability to adapt dynamically to the human body makes it a promising candidate for long-term implantation. Beyond cardiac care, the underlying actuator technology offers new opportunities in areas requiring precise, gentle movement—such as implantable pumps or bio-inspired prosthetics. In the broader high-tech systems domain, these soft actuators could also be used in flexible robotics and precision instrumentation.
To read the full news release from AMOLF, visit:Breakthrough in heart technology: prototype of first soft robotic artificial heart
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