Researchers at MIT and collaborating institutions have developed a soft robotic model that reproduces the movement and blood-flow dynamics of the human heart's left atrium.
Published in Nature Communications, the study combines a physical robotic simulator with computational models to examine normal heart rhythms and atrial fibrillation, a condition associated with increased stroke risk.
The system uses patient-specific heart geometries and soft actuators to reproduce realistic atrial wall movement and blood circulation.
Researchers validated its performance against human medical imaging and animal models, demonstrating its ability to reproduce clinically relevant indicators of cardiac dysfunction.
The work complements previous findings that heart shape may help predict atrial fibrillation and cardiovascular disease.
It also advances research into soft electronics and materials capable of interacting with moving biological tissue.
Unlike conventional laboratory models, the platform allows researchers to investigate changing heart mechanics under controlled, repeatable conditions.
The technology could eventually support cardiac-device development, medical training and personalized treatment planning, although clinical applications require further validation.