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Scientists Discover Way to Send Information into Black Holes Without Using Energy

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WSU Creates 3D-Printed Beating Heart for Surgeons to Practice Life-Saving Procedures

Researchers at Washington State University (WSU) have developed a groundbreaking 3D-printed model of the left side of the heart that actually beats and contracts, offering doctors and medical students a realistic platform to rehearse complex heart surgeries. This innovation could transform surgical training, particularly for minimally invasive procedures, and reduce reliance on animal models or cadavers.

"Training on a beating heart is crucial for procedures like valve repair," said Kaiyan Qiu, Berry Family Assistant Professor at the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering and corresponding author on the study. "Our model is the first fully synthetic heart that mimics both the anatomy and dynamic function of the left side of the heart without any animal assistance."

Heart Disease and the Need for Advanced Training

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, and approximately 800,000 people undergo heart surgery each year. Alongside major surgeries, doctors frequently perform minimally invasive procedures, such as mitral valve repairs, to treat heart conditions. Traditional training for these surgeries often involves animals, cadavers, or computer simulations, which are either not patient-specific, cannot replicate real heart motion, or are non-reusable.

"Previous synthetic heart models were mostly mold-casted, limiting their ability to replicate the complex curvatures of a real heart," explained Alejandro Guillen Obando, first author of the study and a Ph.D. candidate at WSU. "Our 3D printing approach overcomes these limitations."

Creating the Beating Heart Model

To build their model, the WSU team started with a scan of a real human heart, focusing on the left side, which handles the highest pressures and pumps oxygenated blood throughout the body. The mitral valve, located between the left atrium and ventricle, often becomes leaky with age, causing blood to flow backward and reducing heart efficiency.

The 3D-printed model includes the left atrium, ventricle, and mitral valve. Its soft texture closely mimics real heart tissue. The team integrated tiny pneumatic actuators that pump the model, along with string-like structures that control mitral valve movement. Sensors embedded in the model monitor “blood pressure” as imitation blood circulates.

"Our layer-by-layer 3D printing method allows us to replicate the heart's natural curvature and make the chambers function like a real heart," said Guillen Obando.

Testing the Model with Valve Repair

To demonstrate the model's capabilities, the researchers created a defective mitral valve and performed a repair using a device similar to those used clinically. Sensors recorded an increase in left ventricular pressure, confirming that the valve closed properly. Ultrasound imaging further showed no backward flow of blood, demonstrating successful repair and regurgitation reduction.

This achievement marks a significant step forward in patient-specific surgical training, as it allows medical professionals to practice procedures in a controlled, realistic environment without risk to real patients.

Future Plans

The WSU team has filed a provisional patent for their 3D-printed heart model and is now working to develop a complete heart model with all four chambers and valves. They aim to collaborate with medical professionals and students for pre-surgical rehearsals, especially for valve diseases.

This innovation could improve surgical outcomes, reduce training costs, and make heart surgery safer for patients. By bridging the gap between synthetic models and live surgery, WSU’s 3D-printed heart represents a major advancement in medical technology.

Reference

A. Guillen Obando, H. Shen, M. McGovern, et al. “3D-Printed Dynamic Heart Model With Left-Side Anatomy and Integrated Sensor for Edge-to-Edge Repair and Regurgitation Reduction.” Advanced Materials Technologies (2026): e70885. https://doi.org/10.1002/admt.70885l

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