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This article is showcasing how far even the most bleeding edge technology from recreating the functionality of basic human organs. Heart doesn't seem exactly th

by rwz 7y ago

This article is showcasing how far even the most bleeding edge technology from recreating the functionality of basic human organs. Heart doesn't seem exactly the most complex organ structurally wise, especially compared to things like lungs, liver, or kidneys. But we can't even make a sustainable replacement for it that wouldn't require 4 kilograms of external batteries that you'd need to recharge multiple times a day. I can't wait for the future where artificial organs and limbs not only match the usability and functionality of the normal ones, but actually exceed it.

xwdv 7y ago
> I can't wait for the future where artificial organs and limbs not only match the usability and functionality of the normal ones, but actually exceed it. Why? What exactly would you do with those capabilities? Sit at a desk job and work 50 hours a week to make payments on your super organs and limbs? You can already achieve great levels of performance with regular limbs and organs, and most people don’t take advantage of that, so I don’t see what artificial ones will add.
- layoutIfNeeded 7y ago
  Absolutely: https://giphy.com/gifs/ghost-shell-outghost-fsoCk5kgOcYMM https://giphy.com/gifs/ghost-shell-outghost-fsoCk5kgOcYMM
- SirHound 7y ago
  Probably just continue to enjoy my life
mytailorisrich 7y ago
> But we can't even make a sustainable replacement for it that wouldn't require 4 kilograms of external batteries that you'd need to recharge multiple times a day. There's no magical solution. The heart develops several watts of mechanical power 24/7 [1], i.e. that's what is required even if the pump was perfectly efficient, and I doubt pumps are that efficient. [1] https://hypertextbook.com/facts/2003/IradaMuslumova.shtml https://hypertextbook.com/facts/2003/IradaMuslumova.shtml
- rwz 7y ago
  Right. The heart performs a bunch of chemical reactions to sustain its energy needs and the fact that in 2019 we don't have anything even remotely capable of doing the same at a scale required is kinda depressing.
close04 7y ago
To be fair the heart doesn't provide its own power supply either. Not that we're anywhere close with the rest of the functionality.

by rwz 7y ago

xwdv 7y ago

> I can't wait for the future where artificial organs and limbs not only match the usability and functionality of the normal ones, but actually exceed it. Why? What exactly would you do with those capabilities? Sit at a desk job and work 50 hours a week to make payments on your super organs and limbs? You can already achieve great levels of performance with regular limbs and organs, and most people don’t take advantage of that, so I don’t see what artificial ones will add.

layoutIfNeeded 7y ago
Absolutely: https://giphy.com/gifs/ghost-shell-outghost-fsoCk5kgOcYMM https://giphy.com/gifs/ghost-shell-outghost-fsoCk5kgOcYMM
SirHound 7y ago
Probably just continue to enjoy my life

mytailorisrich 7y ago

> But we can't even make a sustainable replacement for it that wouldn't require 4 kilograms of external batteries that you'd need to recharge multiple times a day. There's no magical solution. The heart develops several watts of mechanical power 24/7 [1], i.e. that's what is required even if the pump was perfectly efficient, and I doubt pumps are that efficient. [1] https://hypertextbook.com/facts/2003/IradaMuslumova.shtml https://hypertextbook.com/facts/2003/IradaMuslumova.shtml

rwz 7y ago
Right. The heart performs a bunch of chemical reactions to sustain its energy needs and the fact that in 2019 we don't have anything even remotely capable of doing the same at a scale required is kinda depressing.

close04 7y ago

To be fair the heart doesn't provide its own power supply either. Not that we're anywhere close with the rest of the functionality.