Overview

• Researchers at Drexel University have developed a shunt that expands when exposed to blue light, potentially reducing the number of surgeries needed for infants with heart defects.
• The shunt's inner diameter can be increased from 3.5 to 5 millimeters, accommodating the child's growth without additional surgeries.
• The technology uses a fiber-optic catheter to activate the light-sensitive hydrogel inside the shunt, avoiding the need for open-chest surgery.
• Initial lab tests show promise, with plans to move on to tests in artificial circulatory systems and eventually animal models.
• This innovation could also be applied to other pediatric surgeries where growth needs to be considered.