Artificial Heart Recipient Has No Pulse

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Artificial Heart Recipient Has No Pulse

Posted by Soulskill on Wednesday September 30, 2009 @02:14AM from the just-a-low-pitched-hum dept.

laggist writes "A heart patient in Singapore has been implanted with an artificial heart that pumps blood continuously, allowing her to live without a pulse. From the article: '... the petite Madam Salina, who suffers from end-stage heart failure, would not have been able to use the older and bulkier models because they can only be implanted in patients 1.7m or taller. The 30-year-old administrative assistant is the first recipient here to get a new artificial heart that pumps blood continuously, the reason why there are no beats on her wrist.'" The story is light on details, but an article from last year in MIT's Technology Review explains a bit more about how a pulse-less artificial heart works.

25 of 465 comments (clear)

First pulse. by Anonymous Coward · 2009-09-30 02:16 · Score: 5, Funny

First pulse.
All logic aside.. by faux978 · 2009-09-30 02:18 · Score: 5, Funny

This probably wouldn't happen cause of medical history and all that jazz, but that aside, it'd be priceless to see a nurse unaware of the circumstance trying to take her pulse..
1. Re:All logic aside.. by Thyamine · 2009-09-30 02:57 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  I imagine it never quite would get old either. Going in for a check-up with some new nurse. Watching her reaction as she adjusts her grip, then again, watching her change arms, looking a little more worried. Or maybe I'm just cruel.
  
  --
  I will shred my adversaries. Pull their eyes out just enough to turn them towards their mewing, mutilated faces. Illyria
Any systems depend on a pulse by MyLongNickName · 2009-09-30 02:18 · Score: 5, Interesting

With hundreds of millions of years of evolution, are there any systems in the human body that are dependent on the pulse to function properly?

--
See my journal for slashdot ID's by year. Mine created in 2005. http://slashdot.org/journal/289875/slashdot-ids-by-year
1. Re:Any systems depend on a pulse by Anonymous Coward · 2009-09-30 02:21 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  We'll find out pretty soon now, won't we?
2. Re:Any systems depend on a pulse by 0x000000 · 2009-09-30 02:26 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Apparently not a single organ in the body does serial communication by having it clocked in or out on the rising or falling edge of the pulse.
  
  --
  cat /dev/null > .signature
3. Re:Any systems depend on a pulse by Myji+Humoz · 2009-09-30 02:27 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  Speaking as a biomedical engineer, there are no significant systems that we know of that require a varying pressure of blood to function correctly. The pulse as the blood gets pumped stretches the arterial and capillary walls slightly, but that's about it. Very few cells in the body experience the effects of the pulsing pressure to begin with, and those tend to be ones that can function despite the pulse rather than because of it.
  
  --
  Signatures are the new names.
4. Re:Any systems depend on a pulse by MBGMorden · 2009-09-30 02:43 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  Well if we're in there redesigning the system anyways, it seems that there should be some way to filter or shake the blood as it passes through this thing to prevent clotting. Heck in some distant future it'd be interesting to see if it could be designed to filter out unwanted levels things like cholesterol and the like. Or for diabetics, directly monitor blood-sugar levels and inject insulin as needed to keep things under control.
  Or with it being in such directly contact with so many of the body's essential systems, perhaps enough monitors could be built in that it could via wifi or the like send signals to the local dispatch office if the blood stops flowing, or if the blood pressure crosses a certain threshold.
  Of course I'm playing armchair medical engineer here with no real knowledge whatsoever, but that's what most "futurists" do anyways :D.
  
  --
  "People who think they know everything are very annoying to those of us who do."-Mark Twain
5. Re:Any systems depend on a pulse by Clandestine_Blaze · 2009-09-30 03:13 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  +1 for necrophiliacs who get the best of both worlds.
  
  --
  Best "String" Ever!
Re:In a movie by sakdoctor · 2009-09-30 02:23 · Score: 5, Funny

What are the drawbacks?
Welcome to the afterlife, Jean-Luc. You're dead.
Re:Should sleep with a sign on chest/back.. by BobMcD · 2009-09-30 02:28 · Score: 5, Insightful

Or don't try to resuscitate. Wouldn't CPR's compressions be both worthless and potentially damaging?
Re:In a movie by sopssa · 2009-09-30 02:29 · Score: 5, Interesting

Or even more so, how do machines or the nurses/doctors see you're still living if you're temporary unconscious (maybe a few too many beers?) and your pulse is zero. Then they'll declare you dead and dig you to graveyard. Nice place to wake up after a night of partying.
Re:In a movie by thhamm · 2009-09-30 02:31 · Score: 5, Funny

Welcome to the afterlife, Jean-Luc. You're dead.
No, I am not dead. Because I refuse to believe that the afterlife is run by you. The universe is not so badly designed.
Does she feel any different? by BobMcD · 2009-09-30 02:31 · Score: 5, Interesting

Having always had a heartbeat since birth, I can only assume that I can feel it beat, but am ignoring it. Obviously there are exceptions where I can very much feel and hear my pulse, and am very well aware of it.
She'll never feel that again.
Does she notice?
Re:Awesome... by simoncpu+was+here · 2009-09-30 02:31 · Score: 5, Funny

That has already been done with Star Trek TNG, Episode 148, where a Takaran sabotaged a test and faked his own death in order to discredit a Ferengi scientist and steal the metaphysic shield technology for use as a weapon.
Re:What about clotting? by yincrash · 2009-09-30 02:42 · Score: 5, Insightful

I think you just proved that what you heard was wrong.
New rules required. by ThatsNotFunny · 2009-09-30 02:44 · Score: 5, Funny

I shall now have to amend my requirements for women that I will have sex with.

Pulse now optional.

--
"Was it a millionaire who said 'Imagine No Posessions?'" -- Elvis Costello
Re:Should sleep with a sign on chest/back.. by i.r.id10t · 2009-09-30 02:45 · Score: 5, Funny

Miracle Max: Whoo-hoo-hoo, look who knows so much. It just so happens that your friend here is only MOSTLY dead. There's a big difference between mostly dead and all dead. Mostly dead is slightly alive. With all dead, well, with all dead there's usually only one thing you can do.
Inigo Montoya: What's that?
Miracle Max: Go through his clothes and look for loose change.

--
Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos
Re:In a movie by blind+biker · 2009-09-30 02:49 · Score: 5, Informative

This device is bladeless. In fact, one of the major advantages of this artificial heart compared to the traditional ones, is that this damages less blood cells than all other artificial "pulsed" devices. It has other benefits, like smaller size and less energy consumption. Overall, it's a greatly improved system.

--
"The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
The perfect sniper by isThisNameAvailable · 2009-09-30 02:53 · Score: 5, Funny

Snipers have to concentrate to manage their heart rates and time their shots between beats. A little practice and we've now got the world's quickest shot at 1,000 meters.
Re:Should sleep with a sign on chest/back.. by Inda · 2009-09-30 02:58 · Score: 5, Funny

Agreed. What you would realy need is a hole and a crank handle.

--
This post contains benzene, nitrosamines, formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide.
Heart Mate II Pump by t00le · 2009-09-30 03:01 · Score: 5, Informative

She is holding a Heart Mate II pump...most of our patients get this model...and NONE have a regular pulse. Funny since this is just breaking news and St Lukes Heart Transplant do it day in and day out, for a loooong time.

--
When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail
Re:In a movie by Anonymous Coward · 2009-09-30 03:13 · Score: 5, Funny

Almost as good as smoking through that little hole in your neck.
Oh damn! I thought that what it was for. A cigarette, after all, fits the hole perfectly.
I just made an appointment with my surgeon to have it fitted for cigars, too.
Re:In a movie by jockeys · 2009-09-30 05:33 · Score: 5, Funny

Welcome to the afterlife, Jean-Luc. You're dead.
No, I am not dead. Because I refuse to believe that the afterlife is run by you. The universe is not so badly designed.
Blasphemy! I should... cast you out, or smite you, or something.

--

In Soviet Russia jokes are formulaic and decidedly non-humorous.
Re:In a movie by digitig · 2009-09-30 05:35 · Score: 5, Funny

What are the drawbacks?
Well, I'm going to have to relax my "anything with a pulse" criterion...

--
Quidnam Latine loqui modo coepi?