A light activated bio-glue could repair a broken heart after surgery or trauma by reducing uncontrolled bleeding, which is currently a major cause of death.

Sealing heart and artery wounds is difficult because the adhesive must be strong enough to resist high blood pressure and the movement of a beating heart. Very few non-toxic materials meet these criteria.

But now a team of researchers at the China’s Zhejiang University have developed the new glue.

“No current existing clinical products can stop operative heart bleeding so quick and efficiently,” lead researcher Hongwei Ouyang told the New Scientist magazine.

The light-activated glue repaired cuts in pig hearts and stopped them bleeding in less than 30 seconds, experiments showed. The researchers believe it could now be used on humans.

Baby operated on outside of womb for ground-breaking operation Show all 11 1 /11 Baby operated on outside of womb for ground-breaking operation Baby operated on outside of womb for ground-breaking operation The pioneering procedure was carried out after tests revealed Bethan Simpson's child had Spina Bifida Bethan Simpson Baby operated on outside of womb for ground-breaking operation Doctors treated Bethany's unborn baby outside her womb in a ground-breaking operation. The pioneering treatment was done at 24 weeks of pregnancy Bethan Simpson Baby operated on outside of womb for ground-breaking operation Bethan Simpson and her mother-in-law in hospital Following a routine 20-week scan, it emerged that the baby’s head was not the right measurement, and the child’s spinal cord had not fully developed Bethan Simpson Baby operated on outside of womb for ground-breaking operation Bethan Simpson in hospital Ms Simpson and her husband Kieron were given three options: continue the pregnancy as is, terminate the pregnancy, or opt for a fetal repair surgery. She opted for the latter Bethan Simpson Baby operated on outside of womb for ground-breaking operation The 26-year-old from Burnham, Essex said: “We had to do it. We also had to meet some seriously strict criteria. Me and baby went through amniocentesis and MRI and relentless scans. We got approved on the 17th December we planned for surgery. Our lives were such a rollercoaster for the next few weeks.” Bethan Simpson Baby operated on outside of womb for ground-breaking operation The mother-to-be, who is due to give birth in April, had the specialised surgery at the University College London Hospital, where doctors from Great Ormond Street Hospital worked to repair the baby's spine Bethan Simpson Baby operated on outside of womb for ground-breaking operation The surgery involved removing the baby from Ms Simpson’s womb and repairing the spinal cord before placing her back in the womb for the remainder of the pregnancy Bethan Simpson Baby operated on outside of womb for ground-breaking operation Ms Simpson is only the fourth mother in the UK to undergo the procedure Bethan Simpson Baby operated on outside of womb for ground-breaking operation Recallign the surgery said: “I had the most recognised surgeons from around the world from University College London Hospital and Belgium looking after me.” Bethan Simpson Baby operated on outside of womb for ground-breaking operation She added that it was sad that 80% of babies in England are terminated when their parents get told their baby has Spina Bifida. “It's not a death sentence. She has the same potential as every one of us,” she said. "Yes, there are risks of things going wrong but please think more about Spina Bifida, it's not what it used to be." Bethan Simpson Baby operated on outside of womb for ground-breaking operation She added: “I feel our baby kick me day in and day out, that's never changed. She's extra special, she's part of history and our daughter has shown just how much she deserves this life.” Bethan Simpson

The glue is largely made from water and gelatin. After being activated with ultraviolet light it quickly seals and forms a rubbery, waterproof seal.

During experiments, scientists punctured holes in four pig hearts using a needle and then applied the glue to the wounds. After the wounds healed, the glue, which mimics soft human tissues, is naturally absorbed by the body so there is no need for stitches.

It is the first time medical glue has proved strong enough to withstand such high pressure.

Writing in the journal Nature, the scientists said it could be used in pressures ”significantly higher” than in most clinical settings.