4 ms·

This is huge, though I have practical concerns. With two five hour batteries, how critical will degradation be? Are these custom batteries that become the new i

This is huge, though I have practical concerns. With two five hour batteries, how critical will degradation be? Are these custom batteries that become the new insulin? How does this conflate with respiratory failure, which usually leads to cardiac failure? Will we presumedly need new EFR training to avoid frying this with an AED?

ars 7y ago
> how critical will degradation be The batteries are outside the body, so replacing them is not a big deal. > Are these custom batteries that become the new insulin? Surgery to implant this machine will probably be in the $1 million range, new batteries are a rounding error on that. > Will we presumedly need new EFR training to avoid frying this with an AED? An AED looks for fibrillation before triggering, if it doesn't detect that it won't fire. Same for a Dr. - they look for fibrillation, they don't just randomly apply paddles like in the movies.
- eximius 7y ago
  $1 million exceeds most deductibles Batteries might not a few years down the road.
  - ars 7y ago
    > $1 million exceeds most deductibles Most?? Most deductibles are under $5,500, you bet it exceeds it. Did you mean policy limits? Those were made illegal recently (part of why healthcare costs went up so much). > Batteries might not a few years down the road. Doesn't matter. Someone with this device will have so much medical monitoring the cost of a battery won't be noticed. A battery will cost less than a single Dr. visit probably.
    - eximius 7y ago
      You misunderstand me. You'll be able to afford the heart because your insurance will pay for it. A few years from now, you might not be able to afford that new $5,000 battery you need to RUN your heart. > Someone with this device will have so much medical monitoring the cost of a battery won't be noticed. A battery will cost less than a single Dr. visit probably. The same could be said about people with insulin pumps, yet we see financial problems kill them.

ars 7y ago

> how critical will degradation be The batteries are outside the body, so replacing them is not a big deal. > Are these custom batteries that become the new insulin? Surgery to implant this machine will probably be in the $1 million range, new batteries are a rounding error on that. > Will we presumedly need new EFR training to avoid frying this with an AED? An AED looks for fibrillation before triggering, if it doesn't detect that it won't fire. Same for a Dr. - they look for fibrillation, they don't just randomly apply paddles like in the movies.

eximius 7y ago
$1 million exceeds most deductibles Batteries might not a few years down the road.
- ars 7y ago
  > $1 million exceeds most deductibles Most?? Most deductibles are under $5,500, you bet it exceeds it. Did you mean policy limits? Those were made illegal recently (part of why healthcare costs went up so much). > Batteries might not a few years down the road. Doesn't matter. Someone with this device will have so much medical monitoring the cost of a battery won't be noticed. A battery will cost less than a single Dr. visit probably.
  - eximius 7y ago
    You misunderstand me. You'll be able to afford the heart because your insurance will pay for it. A few years from now, you might not be able to afford that new $5,000 battery you need to RUN your heart. > Someone with this device will have so much medical monitoring the cost of a battery won't be noticed. A battery will cost less than a single Dr. visit probably. The same could be said about people with insulin pumps, yet we see financial problems kill them.