An organosynthetic soft robotic respiratory simulator
Name
1.5140760.pdf
Description
Published version
Size
3.65 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
b83316640f4570b67ed238661ad8f990
Author(s)
Horvath, Markus A.
Hu, Lucy
Mueller, Tanja
Hochstein, Jon
Rosalia, Luca
Hibbert, Kathryn A.
Hardin, Charles C.
Roche, Ellen
Date Issued
June 2020
Journal
APL Bioengineering
Publisher
AIP Publishing
Citation
Horvath, Markus A. et al. "An organosynthetic soft robotic respiratory simulator." APL Bioengineering 4, 2 (June 2020): 026108 © 2020 Author(s)
Version
Final published version
Abstract
In this work, we describe a benchtop model that recreates the motion and function of the diaphragm using a combination of advanced robotic and organic tissue. First, we build a high-fidelity anthropomorphic model of the diaphragm using thermoplastic and elastomeric material based on clinical imaging data. We then attach pneumatic artificial muscles to this elastomeric diaphragm, pre-programmed to move in a clinically relevant manner when pressurized. By inserting this diaphragm as the divider between two chambers in a benchtop model-one representing the thorax and the other the abdomen-and subsequently activating the diaphragm, we can recreate the pressure changes that cause lungs to inflate and deflate during regular breathing. Insertion of organic lungs in the thoracic cavity demonstrates this inflation and deflation in response to the pressures generated by our robotic diaphragm. By tailoring the input pressures and timing, we can represent different breathing motions and disease states. We instrument the model with multiple sensors to measure pressures, volumes, and flows and display these data in real-time, allowing the user to vary inputs such as the breathing rate and compliance of various components, and so they can observe and measure the downstream effect of changing these parameters. In this way, the model elucidates fundamental physiological concepts and can demonstrate pathology and the interplay of components of the respiratory system. This model will serve as an innovative and effective pedagogical tool for educating students on respiratory physiology and pathology in a user-controlled, interactive manner. It will also serve as an anatomically and physiologically accurate testbed for devices or pleural sealants that reside in the thoracic cavity, representing a vast improvement over existing models and ultimately reducing the requirement for testing these technologies in animal models. Finally, it will act as an impactful visualization tool for educating and engaging the broader community.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Institute for Medical Engineering & Science
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering
Harvard University--MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology
Terms of Use
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license
Persistent DSpace Link
DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5140760
