Harnessing piezoelectric poly L lactic acid for enhanced sensing in aortic annuloplasty

This work highlights how ViVitro systems enable realistic cardiovascular bench testing for next-generation bioelectronic devices, helping advance translational implant development. Using a ViVitro SuperPump to recreate physiologically relevant pulsatile left-heart conditions, this study evaluates a biodegradable PLLA piezoelectric sensor for real-time monitoring during aortic annuloplasty. The authors enhanced PLLA film performance through uniaxial stretching and thermal annealing, significantly increasing voltage output and enabling stable, pressure-correlated sensing in a ring-like prototype. Within the in-vitro setup, the sensor produced repeatable signals across clinically relevant pressure ranges, supporting its potential as a temporary smart implant.