In Switzerland, the development of artificial muscles is progressing

Inaugurated at the end of June in Switzerland, the Center for Artificial Muscles endeavors to develop a cardiac badistance system that is better tolerated and more effective than those currently in use. This innovative infrastructure consists of scientists from the Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, Inselspital (University Hospital Bern) and University Hospital from Zurich.

The artificial muscle under study is a series of rings made of an electroactive polymer that can expand when tension is applied to it. Placed around the aorta and powered by a magnetic induction system, it can support the heart in its pumping task thanks to a back and forth controllable in real time and badisted by a high precision titanium spring. [19659002]

"This technology would certainly be less invasive than current cardiac aids because it does not interfere directly with blood flow or blood cells", explains Dr. Thierry Carrel, Chief of Cardiovascular Surgery Service 'Inselspital . It should, among other things, avoid the risk of haemorrhage and thrombosis.

The next four years will be devoted to the development of the current technology. Next, the animal tests will give precise indications of the viability of the device.

In addition to cardiac badistance, the teams of Center for Artificial Muscles planned to invest in other fields of medicine and already have two other projects: a urinary sphincter and a reconstruction of facial muscles to give expression to victims of accidents, such as burn victims.