From the article...
It is powered by an external rechargeable battery that connects to the heart via a wire in the patient's chest.
The battery lasts four hours and then alerts the patient that a new battery is needed.
this post was submitted on 12 Mar 2025
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Sounds like actual hell.
The alternative is death, so a lot people would choose this instead.
It's also just temporary, until a biological donor heart can be found for them.
~This~ ~comment~ ~is~ ~licensed~ ~under~ ~CC~ ~BY-NC-SA~ ~4.0~
what's the particular license about?
Exposed wires? Does this mean I could overclock my heart with a bench power supply?
Hopefully it can just run off wall power while at home. It would suck to change in the middle of each night.
God the fear of accidentally sleeping through the alarm would probably keep me from sleeping at all
"When you hear the beeping you need to swap out the battery because if you don't you'll die. Goodnight."
Isn't that the plot from Crank 2 (kind of)?
Chev Chelios ❤️
CHEV FUCKING CHELIOS
I was obsessed. Had the Nokia 8800 (he had sirrocco, but I was poor af). Had the same ring tone. What a movie
Memories awoken.
At least if that happens, you'll simply sleep for the rest of your life.
I’m imagining some sort of an Iron Man situation
This is amazing, but it would certainly be a pain in the ass to have to wake up every four hours during the night to change your battery for your damn heart. And if the alarm couldn't wake you, you'd just fucking die or something.
I hope no software is involved.
software update is available, heart will be restarting now
Serious answer to a facetious reply: I’d imagine there has to be some level of software involved if it’s pulsing, even if it’s rudimentary or low level. I also wonder what it does in terms of the bodies demands such as during physically intense activities. I’d guess that it doesn’t which, along with the 4 hour battery life, probably answers why it’s a stop gap and not an alternative at this point. Still awesome though.
I watched a talk regarding a pacemaker/defibrillator incorrectly shocking a woman because she was an edge case (being younger than and pregnant). She sought help from doctors who, as you may guess, knew nothing about the software. The manufactures ghosted her when asking for information, let alone source code. Some of them are wireless, which makes it vulnerable to attack. Being in control of any software running inside our bodies is an important issue to consider.
non-opensource code for bodyparts should be illegal
I wonder if the pump runs at a constant rate instead of pulsing... Imagine playing tricks on people because you've got no heartbeat!
Old artificial hearts used to do that. It works but pulsing is better for your long term health IIRC.
Why only 4 hours though? How is the capacity of that battery? Also, how does thies heart react to increased demand like a normal heart does?
I actually know this! I used to work on an LVAD controller about 10 years ago. The technology is largely similar.
The pumps are centrifugal, they have to maintain blood pressure, and are largely waterproof.
The pumps spin with a brushless DC motor controlled by PWM. Depending on the specifics of the motor the RPM can be between 8,000 and 22,000. Because of the limitations of battery technology, you're stuck with using a LiPo battery. LiPos are annoying as all shit to deal with. You have to charge them carefully, discharge them carefully, and they're pretty big.
To give you an idea - FPV racing drone batteries can last several minutes: https://www.getfpv.com/batteries/mini-quad-batteries/cnhl-ultra-black-series-1050mah-150c-6s-lipo-battery-xt60.html On a really carefully tuned racer, you can get maybe 5 minutes out of a quad that would use that battery.
Edit: I was incorrect, the first battery I provided was not the battery that would be used in racing. LiPos are what I wanted to share. The battery now highlights what I wanted to.
Calling bullshit on that battery info RE: FPV drones matey.
That's a 4000mAh 4s Li-Ion pack. No racers use Lithium Ion, and definitely not 4AH.
That's a long range FPV pack, and it'll go for about half an hour to an hour on an appropriate LR quad.
A typical racing machine will run on 6s 1300-1500mAh Li-Po packs which are significantly lighter and smaller than your provided link, as well as higher voltage.
You are completely correct. It's been a while since I was flying.
I'm not actually sure what that battery pack is for. Maybe RC car?
It's for an LR drone. What people use for pushing the range limits on a quad. The 25mW Walksnail challenge for example.
Well, kinda. They'd make their own from bulk cells, but you get the idea 💛
Interesting, What about the change of heart rate a normal heart does in response to exertion? I assume this heart only runs at a single speed?
Nope! It has a range of speeds. The PWM signal it provides also produces something called "counter-electromotive force". I don't remember the exact specifics, but if this measurement falls (corresponding with a drop in blooded pressure) it will increase the pump speed (up to the maximum RPM permitted).
That is how our circulatory system works as well - a drop in blood pressure usually results in an increase to heart rate. I say usually, because I coincidentally have a nervous disorder where this is broken - an increase in heart rate will drop my blood pressure. A drop in blood pressure will also increase my heart rate, which then drops my blood pressure, which causes a runaway and I faint.
Very cool, thanks for the insights. Its really amazing how far prosthetics have come in the last years
The headline makes it sound like the heart was a reward. "Congratulations on your operation, here's your prize: a titanium heart."
It's for being wounded as a result of enemy action while in space
Fascinating, and awesome for people in need, but a whole new level of battery anxiety.
Should be using Australium
Found the tf2 player
Can't wait for the day when I'll be able to get a titanium pancreas!