3D-printed stretchable artery implant lowers blood pressure by 15% in early trials

Penn State engineers developed CaroFlex, a soft 3D-printed artery implant for hypertension.

The device sticks to the carotid artery without stitches and uses mild electrical pulses to stimulate blood-pressure sensors.

In rat studies, it lowered blood pressure by more than 15% in most tested settings while causing limited tissue irritation.

Researchers say the bioelectronic approach could offer a less invasive option for drug-resistant hypertension than rigid implants.