Re: 1960 Artificial Heart research

In 1960 the first successful intracardiac prosthetic valve operations are conducted by Albert Star of Portland Oregon. This research led to the development of the first artificial heart in 1982. The patient lived 112 days....then died. He probably couldn't find an outlet. This is an actual photograph of that heart.

Re: 1960 Artificial Heart research

From Wikipedia: "after death, the patient was autopsied, the artificial heart was removed, photographed and tested. The team of scientists and doctors testing the heart determined that death was caused due to lack of an electrical outlet."

Re: 1960 Artificial Heart research

This is interesting, later on in the same article "...after testing, a group of researchers met at a 3 day symposium. The conclusion they came to was maybe battery power would be better in artificial heart applications".

Re: 1960 Artificial Heart research

"....several months later after monumental design changes it was decided that a 12 volt automobile battery would be best for optimum run time before death. When approached about providing these batteries, all major battery manufaturers responded HAYLL NO..."

highgrassfarm wrote:"....several months later after monumental design changes it was decided that a 12 volt automobile battery would be best for optimum run time before death. When approached about providing these batteries, all major battery manufaturers responded HAYLL NO..."

Unfortunately hampster power was never considered...

Re: 1960 Artificial Heart research

"...finally seeing an opportunity for more profit, ignoring the liability aspects. Walmart decided to provide the necessary battery. Overestimating the appeal of an artificial heart and not considering the fact that an automobile battery would need to be lugged around by anyone with a heart installed. Wal Mart ordered several hunderd thousand of these batteries from their sweatshop.....errr...factory in China. These same batteries may be purchased at Wal Mart today...."

highgrassfarm wrote:"...finally seeing an opportunity for more profit, ignoring the liability aspects. Walmart decided to provide the necessary battery. Overestimating the appeal of an artificial heart and not considering the fact that an automobile battery would need to be lugged around by anyone with a heart installed. Wal Mart ordered several hunderd thousand of these batteries from their sweatshop.....errr...factory in China. These same batteries may be purchased at Wal Mart today...."

"...Had it only been 4/1/2008 Woot would have provided all the necessary batteries and many transplantees might still be alive today..."

Jewdave wrote:
"...Had it only been 4/1/2008 Woot would have provided all the necessary batteries and many transplantees might still be alive today..."

Hahahaha! I've seen enough of those things for one lifetime. @_@ Is a Bandoleer of Carrots next? Do W ant! =D

Jewdave wrote:
"...Had it only been 4/1/2008 Woot would have provided all the necessary batteries and many transplantees might still be alive today..."

They considered this, but the battery pack only had a 2 prong plug.

Jewdave wrote:Unfortunately hampster power was never considered...

Funny you should mention this. If you'll look about halfway through the sixth paragraph it says "...four of the researchers met at a famous "coffee shop" in Amsterdam. Alternate power sources were discussed. After several ideas were discussed hamster power was considered. A prototype was built using coctail straws and olives. A large mouse was retrieved from the kitchen for the prototype in place of an actual hamster. The experiment was thought to be a success when the device was percieved to power the researcher's electric lighter. The next morning however when clearer heads prevailed they realized the lighter was powered by quartz. The researchers were heard to say "you dumb"..."

highgrassfarm wrote:Funny you should mention this. If you'll look about halfway through the sixth paragraph it says "...four of the researchers met at a famous "coffee shop" in Amsterdam. Alternate power sources were discussed. After several ideas were discussed hamster power was considered. A prototype was built using coctail straws and olives. A large mouse was retrieved from the kitchen for the prototype in place of an actual hamster. The experiment was thought to be a success when the device was percieved to power the researcher's electric lighter. The next morning however when clearer heads prevailed they realized the lighter was powered by quartz. The researchers were heard to say "you dumb"..."

lo l I can just picture a group of mad scientists building a wheel for a mouse out of cocktail straws and olives. =D

eyeslikesugar wrote:lo l I can just picture a group of mad scientists building a wheel for a mouse out of cocktail straws and olives. =D

I have a photograph of that also, I happened to be ath this particular coffee shop at the time. If I get the appropriate theme, maybe I'll make a shirt out of that.