New artificial heart

[getitdone1]

The March 2012 issue of 'Popular Science' has an article about a new type of artificial heart that uses a pair of small turbines which provide a continuous flow of blood rather than a pulse. A couple of famous doctors at The Texas Medical Center in Houston think this device may be THE answer. Article has a great picture of these two outstanding doctors. They say such a heart may be available in about 10 years. They are presently installing it in calves and some have lived up to 3 months.

Our hearts are amazing machines. They beat around 35 million times a year without ever taking a rest and do this for as long as we live. The typical artificial hearts can beat for no longer than about 18 months.

No doubt some members here have 'heart problems' or have relatives with heart problems and I hope you find this helpful.

If you can, find and read this article. Libraries should have it.

Don

[FWiedner]

Interesting. I seem to remember this idea from 20 years ago or so.

There was some dicussion about what effect such a device would have on the recipients of the devices both physiologically and mentally.

What I remember was a question about the long-term physical effect, because the human circulatory system has a built in valve system that assists to keep blood flowing in a particular direction (i.e. what would be the effect on this system were this function to be negated? ) and the thought that a having a heart-beat has a notable affect on mental well-being. Seems heart transplant patients with installed prototypes of that era quickly became depressed because they felt like they "didn't have a heart." Some effort was put into attaching a 'heart-beat' to the contraptions under development at the time.

[Blaine]

They Orta work on this some more....Sounds promising.

[getitdone1]

Initially there was concern that the turbines would damage the blood cells due to the speed with which they moved the blood. This proved to not be a problem. They found that often a similar device installed alongside the heart would give the heart a chance to mend itself though some hearts cannot be helped. Ex Vice-President Cheny is using such a device. These devices are called LVADs. 11,000 people worldwide are now using LVADs. They are powered by videocassette-size batteries hanging under a person's armpits.

One doctor states that he thinks we are on the verge of solving the artificial heart problem for good--...."all we had to do was get rid of the pulse."

Don

[olyinaz]

The heart beat with the pressure spikes works some functions in our bodies though doesn't it? For example, my favorite body part seems to need to be pumped up on the high pressure points of the heart beat to work correctly...no?

A new heart but your schwanze doesn't work? What' the use??!! Just sayin'...

Oly

[AJMD429]

The heart beat with the pressure spikes works some functions in our bodies though doesn't it?

All kidding aside, I do think that has been at least speculated, although we definitely know that if the spikes get too high, as with older folks with 'rigid, inelastic, arteries', relative to the troughs, that causes problems as well. Fascinating stuff, but the closer we get to playing God medically, the more trouble it seems to stir up. Of course the first time we gave a person dying of pneumonia some penicillin, I guess we started that...

[piller]

I don't see a problem with giving someone a device which can prolong their life as long as it is to ease pain and suffering. Now, I am not surprised that Blaine has gone of on that vein of humor. Maybe I artery not do it along with him.

[olyinaz]

The heart beat with the pressure spikes works some functions in our bodies though doesn't it?

All kidding aside, I do think that has been at least speculated, although we definitely know that if the spikes get too high, as with older folks with 'rigid, inelastic, arteries', relative to the troughs, that causes problems as well. Fascinating stuff, but the closer we get to playing God medically, the more trouble it seems to stir up. Of course the first time we gave a person dying of pneumonia some penicillin, I guess we started that...

Yep! But this all pales to major insignificance if my pee pee doesn't work. After all, it's all about me.

Oly

[El Chivo]

The heart beat with the pressure spikes works some functions in our bodies though doesn't it?

All kidding aside, I do think that has been at least speculated, although we definitely know that if the spikes get too high, as with older folks with 'rigid, inelastic, arteries', relative to the troughs, that causes problems as well. Fascinating stuff, but the closer we get to playing God medically, the more trouble it seems to stir up. Of course the first time we gave a person dying of pneumonia some penicillin, I guess we started that...

Yep! But this all pales to major insignificance if my pee pee doesn't work. After all, it's all about me.

Oly

In your case it probably will never go down once it's pumped up the first time. Maybe they can route a special tube straight down there to keep it pumped up as well.

I would think it would be an improvement, healthwise. I would think brain function would be improved by a steady flow. But if you think we got no rhythm now...

[Sixgun]

Yep! But this all pales to major insignificance if my pee pee doesn't work. After all, it's all about me.
Oly

Aaahh, you guys worry too much about the little things. Just do what my wife's uncle used to do--tie a popsicle stick to your unit and "go to town "

[Old Ironsights]

IIRC there was a Science Fiction story (decades ago) where space pilots had to have a rotary/turbine blood pump installed to replace their heart because it eliminated some time dilation effect or something. His girlfriend didn't like it (nothing to listen to with her head on his chest...), but IIRC the hero used it to his advantage when some alien targeted prey by focusing on heartbeats...

[Old Ironsights]

...In your case it probably will never go down once it's pumped up the first time. Maybe they can route a special tube straight down there to keep it pumped up as well.

Don't laugh. I think AJ can verify that that is already a "treatment" for drug-resistant ED...