For rat's sake: Building an artificial heart
Garny A., Kohl P.
The development of computer models of heart for biomedical research is discussed. Modern engineering technique such as micro-fluidic techniques to deposit patterns of extracellular matrix proteins on elastic membranes, to pre-determine cell growth and cell attachment are applied to study the cardiac structure and electro-mechanical function of flat heart. Computer models of heart are being developed and the most complex model combine realistic tissue architecture with detailed representation of cellular activity, coronary blood flow, and cardiac mechanics. Cardiac modelling offers a valuable compromise for the investigation of many aspects of structure-function interrelation.