An international team, including the University of Tokyo, has created a sensor inspired by the lateral line in fish—their 'sixth sense' organ—which measures the pulse of lab-grown 3D heart tissue, known as cardiac organoids. The device, called a biomechanical well plate, resembles a small white box containing four liquid-filled wells.
This innovation offers a new way to monitor the beating of artificial heart tissue in real time, providing researchers with a tool that mimics natural sensory mechanisms. By drawing from fish biology, the team adds a fresh perspective to biomedical sensing, moving beyond traditional electronic or optical methods.
The invention targets cardiac organoids, which are miniature, lab-grown heart models used for drug testing and disease research. Accurately measuring their rhythmic contractions is critical for studying heart function and potential treatments.
Such a sensor could accelerate drug discovery by giving scientists more precise data on how heart tissue responds to compounds. It may also reduce the need for animal testing by improving the reliability of in vitro models. Further development is needed before the device reaches commercial labs.
The approach highlights how nature's designs can inspire breakthroughs in medical technology. No timeline for wider adoption was provided.