Design, development, and testing of a multifingered heart compression/assist device equipped with IPMC artificial muscles

Abstract

Presented is a novel mammalian heart compression/assist device in the form of a multi-fingered robotic hand equipped with an assembly of thick ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC) fingers encased inside a water bag. The proposed multi-fingered heart compression device (MFHCD) is entirely endoscopically implantable and can be directly or transcutaneously energized by inductive magnetoresonant generators.