WSU Researchers Develop 3D Printed Heart That Beats Like the Real Thing

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, and surgeons often perform complex procedures that require extensive practice. Traditional training methods include working with animals, cadavers, computer simulations, and mold-cast synthetic models—but none of these fully replicate the feel of a real, beating heart.

Researchers at Washington State University have developed a breakthrough: a 3D printed model of the left side of the heart that actually contracts and beats like the real thing.

Layer-by-Layer Precision

The team used scans of a human heart to print a replica of the left side—the chamber that experiences the highest pressures and pumps oxygenated blood throughout the body. The model includes the atrium, ventricle, and mitral valve, with a soft, lifelike texture.

Our layer-by-layer approach in 3D printing allows us to add more curvature and make the chambers more accurately than mold-cast methods, explained Alejandro Guillen Obando, a PhD candidate at WSU.

To make the model beat, researchers incorporated tiny pneumatic actuators that mimic the heart's pumping action. As imitation blood is pumped through, sensors monitor simulated blood pressure—giving surgeons a realistic training experience.

Practicing on a Beating Heart

The researchers tested their model by printing a defective mitral valve and then repairing it—a scenario surgeons frequently encounter. The team has filed a provisional patent and is now working on expanding the model to include all four chambers and valves.

This development could revolutionize surgical training, making it safer and more accessible for the next generation of cardiothoracic surgeons.