Read it on the BBC earlier.
It's a shame the heart lasts less than a day before needin a recharge.
A more integrated energy supply is needed for feasability. Or at least making rat hearts first to test long-term function.
Integrated energy. We metabolize calories and that creates cellular ATP, the energy that powers every cell in our body. Only an organically 'grown' lab heart will properly integrate with the rest of the biological system. By the sound of it, the artificial heart seems very energy intensive to last for less than a day on todays battery technology. A pacemaker lasts years on a single battery.
An internal energy generating system different from cellular ATP is also an option for the artificial heart. Mechanical physics applies not only to wave energy, but blood flow, not only to windmills, but our lungs. Tiny nanosized windmills big enough to be affected by air flow in and out but small enough not to interfere with the intake of oxygen and exhaling of C02? Perhaps energy generated from blood flow, although the energy 'stolen' from those processes should not interfere with it's function. Lack of oxygen over a while and restricted blood flow may just as well be a greater problem than the original condition.
Crocodiles generate energy from sunlight via their skin, it's why they can not eat easily for a month. Maybe biological solar panels... :freak:
I'd also throw in nuclear, but our cells are infact nuclear powered. Same principles. I doub uranium or plutonium inside would make one feel healthier.
uke:
Another option is wireless power. It would have to be very reliable though and the nodes would have to be everywhere and the heart will have a basic computer that charges automatically and stops automatically, and can transmit data on it's status/function etc. Highly concentrated nodes within our environment is essential to feel safe, probably the same concentration as plug sockets. Although outdoors may perhaps also be needed, but if you have an artificial heart, I doubt you'll be outdoors for that long. Let's just say sacrificing camping, holidays in the wilderness, or treks across uninhabited territory, is a small price to pay for a theoretically immortal heart. Combined with continually improving battery technology, may become very convenient one day, thus normalized. Not unfeasible that in 20 years, the heart could last a week on a single charge.
Here's an example of wireless resonation power. Managing to power a blender in real time!
eCoupled wireless power, developed by Alticor subsidiary Fulton Innovation, allows for power and data transfer without cables. The technology has been used in eSpring water filters for some years and will soon be appearing in other consumer electronics
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=1PC5DhpouaU
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=tfQCmerO1 ... re=related
