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"Patients will wear a 4-kg external controller pack that contains two rechargeable batteries (providing about 5 hours of operation each), although they can also
by 49para 7y ago
"Patients will wear a 4-kg external controller pack that contains two rechargeable batteries (providing about 5 hours of operation each), although they can also plug in directly to a power outlet."
This seems like a potential issue.
- foxyv 7y agoUsually these artificial hearts are to keep a person alive long enough for a donor to become available. Not a problem if they have to lug a battery around for a few months since it's not permanent.
- 49para 7y agoSeems like a lot of trauma to have multiple open heart surgeries. Seems like something like a portable ECMO (not sure if that exists) would be less invasive (ECMO is for oxigination which probably would be overkill in this situation)
- rscho 7y agoNo, ECMO is a big machine. And is extremely invasive.
- 420codebro 7y agoECMO is an order of magnitude more complex than a temporary artificial heart. ECMO is typically used where multiple organs are not performing - and if that is happening long term you aren’t gonna live.
- ars 7y ago> This seems like a potential issue. How so? That's light enough even a kid could wear it as a backpack.
- 49para 7y agoHave you met anyone that just had open heart surgery ? They are not at their peak physically for sure.
- ars 7y agoThat's a good point, but I would assume they would be bed-bound at that point, and as they got better they would be able to carry this around. The article talks about designing the machine to handle running, so I think it's intended for people to wear it for life and be generally healthy.
- cududa 7y agoPeople on HN love to nitpick massive new inventions that will surely improve over time. If my options are death or a battery pack, I think I’d go with the battery pack