> first implant of an artificial heart that can beat for up to five years
One: I don't think this is the first. Two: the artificial hearts I've heard of don't actually beat; it's more of a constant flow.
One: I don't think this is the first. Two: the artificial hearts I've heard of don't actually beat; it's more of a constant flow.
The scariest thing is that they also boast a significant increase in battery life ... to 12 hours. Jesus, I get angry when my cell phone dies after 12 hours.
Can I upgrade to yours? :-)
"""Heart-assistance devices have been used for decades as a temporary solution for patients awaiting transplants, but Carmat's bioprosthetic product is designed to replace the real heart over the long run, mimicking nature's work using biological materials and sensors."""
edit: the headline is a little confusing, but it's currently phrased "Carmat's first," a company formed specifically to advance the state of the art in synthetic organs.
Wikipedia cites this[0] account of the first transplant:
"""During the 112 days that he survived, he underwent four additional operations, had several episodes of bleeding, and experienced prolonged periods of confusion. He even asked to die on several occasions."""
[0]http://celebrities.healthdiaries.com/the-25th-anniversary-of...
My brief research also suggests they are the most widely used devices (the support support system for the Jarvic 7 is down to 13 pounds!). I'm not familiar with the stuff, I just thought it was an interesting question.