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Patches for a Broken Heart
dnahelix writes: "From NASA, Patches for a Broken Heart
Using a space-age device called a bioreactor, researchers have grown patches of tissue that beat and respond much like a human heart does.
This was reported in October of 1999, Scientists Grow Heart Tissue in Bioreactor, however, it appears progress is being made. The new article includes an animated gif of pulsing tissue!" From the article: "They'll pick a rate and they'll beat at it," says Freed. "If you blow on them, they'll change." They're very sensitive to stimulation, she says. "If they warm up or cool down, if someone slams the door, their rate can change."
This is a big step but, where is a more scientific paper on the subject? The links on the page are about the same calliber imo.
Anyway like I was saying, this is a big step. I have to wonder if/when there planning on implanting the tissue patch into a living heart. Some of you were mentioning its use in a pacemaker, and thats not quite right. The reason this contracts so randomly, and is so sensitive, is most likely due to the lack of the bio-feedback mechinism that controlls heart rate (sorry I forget the name of the exact nerve and bundle that does this). The important test will be to stick this into a real heart, and see if the patch beats in sync with the rest. Not the other way around.
I'm sure the more acedemic release on this experiment talks about this. Anyone find links I didn't? I'd be quite interested to hear.
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