Hooray for cybernetics!

July 3, 2001 4:28 PM

Hooray for cybernetics! Surgeons from the University of Louisville have implanted the world's first battery-opertated mechnical heart in a paitent who was terminally ill. How cool is that?
posted by Hackworth (11 comments total)

Watch the accompanying video if you can, It's much more informative than the article.
posted by Hackworth at 4:34 PM on July 3, 2001

#insert <cheney_gag.h>
posted by holgate at 5:11 PM on July 3, 2001

Thought I read this patient had a 30-day life expectancy and this version of the heart might extend his life an additional 30 days?! "Patients considered for the implant were critically ill with fewer than 30 days to live and the life expectancy of the patient who got the new device is expected to be extended by about a month."

GREAT.. anyone whos been through major body cavity surgery the first month isnt worth living.
posted by stbalbach at 5:22 PM on July 3, 2001

Hope that the heart isn't running Windows as its OS...
posted by SpecialK at 6:24 PM on July 3, 2001

The company that makes the artificial heart (Abiomed) has a 5 minute video as well.
posted by Alwin at 7:50 PM on July 3, 2001

The company that makes the artificial heart (Abiomed) has a 5 minute video as well.


Its nice to know that the narrator for all the educational films I saw in grade school is still at it.

Also, Cybernetics is an information theory. Hooray for Cyborgs.
posted by skallas at 10:53 PM on July 3, 2001

Not to downplay the accomplishment, but I'm convinced that scientists are going to learn to adapt cloning or stem cell research and be able to grow a new heart from a patient's own DNA before mechanical hearts become reliable and safe.
posted by RylandDotNet at 4:46 AM on July 4, 2001

It's too bad she won't live. But then again- who does? /bladeRunner
posted by Alwin at 4:49 AM on July 4, 2001

Good one Alwin.
posted by stbalbach at 6:48 AM on July 4, 2001

"Some will live longer than 60 days, some will live less. But they will all die on AbioCor -- every single one of them," said David Lederman, president and chief executive officer of Abiomed, the company that has developed the AbioCor device.

"they will all die on AbioCor -- every single one of them"

..unless they find Sebastian
posted by stbalbach at 6:59 AM on July 4, 2001

The test calves lasted for years. But if you say they will only live for 30 days you avoid bad pr, and if they last longer then everyone's happy.

They killed the calves when they outgrew the hearts. That's cruel. Oh wait, I'm wearing leather shoes and ate a hamburger yesterday. Never mind.
posted by mecran01 at 12:07 PM on July 4, 2001