Chennai surgeon develops first ‘made-in-India’ 3-D printed heart valve
The heart valves were created using specialised biopolymers that are remarkably close to human tissue and may be put directly into heart patients.
FollowA Chennai-based cardiac surgeon revealed the creation of India's first 3-D printed heart valve, providing hope to the thousands of patients who require heart valve replacement surgery each year. The currently available artificial heart valves are made of either metal components (mechanical) or animal tissues (bioprosthetic), each with its own set of disadvantages or complications, such as the risk of blood clot formation, valve failure due to degeneration, valve infection, the need for long-term blood thinner medications, and so on.
As per various media reports, Dr Sanjay Cherian, Vice President and COO of Frontier Lifeline Hospital, the new heart valves produced utilising 3D printers can solve these difficulties associated with artificial heart valves.
The heart valves were created using specialised biopolymers that are remarkably close to human tissue and may be put directly into heart patients. Cherian worked with the Centre for Automation and the School of Mechanical Engineering at Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) in Chennai to create the innovative 3D printed heart valve.
Cherian, who described the breakthrough as a huge leap in cardiology, stated that they are excited to announce that they have designed and manufactured India's first 3D printed heart valve. He went on to say that this new 3D printed heart valve might be the future of cardiac surgery since it eliminates the majority of the problems connected with the mechanical heart valves that are now in use.
He added that because it is "Made in India," the cost of this innovative heart valve may be substantially cheaper than that of the imported heart valves now utilised in India. Cherian intends to patent this 3D printed heart valve and test it for biocompatibility, effectiveness, and durability.
