Bio-inspired actuated material developed that mimics the complex motion of the heart muscle and could lead to better implantable medical devices

In the heart, as in the movies, 3D action beats the 2D experience hands down.In 3D, healthy hearts do their own version of the twist. Rather than a simple pumping action, they circulate blood as if they were wringing a towel. The bottom of the heart twists as it contracts in a counterclockwise direction while the top twists clockwise. Scientists call this the left ventricular twist - and it can be used as an indicator of heart health.The heart is not alone. The human body is replete with examples of soft muscular systems that bend, twist, extend, and flex in complex ways.