In short:
A mechanical heart has been implanted in a New South Wales man who was experiencing severe heart failure.
He has become the first person in the world to be discharged from hospital with the titanium heart.
What’s next?
Doctors say the invention will likely be an alternative for donor heart transplants in the future.
I actually know this! I used to work on an LVAD controller about 10 years ago. The technology is largely similar.
The pumps are centrifugal, they have to maintain blood pressure, and are largely waterproof.
The pumps spin with a brushless DC motor controlled by PWM. Depending on the specifics of the motor the RPM can be between 8,000 and 22,000. Because of the limitations of battery technology, you’re stuck with using a LiPo battery. LiPos are annoying as all shit to deal with. You have to charge them carefully, discharge them carefully, and they’re pretty big.
To give you an idea - FPV drone batteries can last several minutes: https://www.getfpv.com/batteries/mini-quad-batteries/auline-21700-4000mah-14-8v-a45-4s-li-ion-battery-xt60.html (if you need help with scale - the yellow connector is called an xt60). On a really carefully tuned racer, you can get maybe 5 minutes out of a quad that would use that battery.
Calling bullshit on that battery info RE: FPV drones matey.
That’s a 4000mAh 4s Li-Ion pack. No racers use Lithium Ion, and definitely not 4AH.
That’s a long range FPV pack, and it’ll go for about half an hour to an hour on an appropriate LR quad.
A typical racing machine will run on 6s 1300-1500mAh Li-Po packs which are significantly lighter and smaller than your provided link, as well as higher voltage.
You are completely correct. It’s been a while since I was flying.
I’m not actually sure what that battery pack is for. Maybe RC car?
Interesting, What about the change of heart rate a normal heart does in response to exertion? I assume this heart only runs at a single speed?
Nope! It has a range of speeds. The PWM signal it provides also produces something called “counter-electromotive force”. I don’t remember the exact specifics, but if this measurement falls (corresponding with a drop in blooded pressure) it will increase the pump speed (up to the maximum RPM permitted).
That is how our circulatory system works as well - a drop in blood pressure usually results in an increase to heart rate. I say usually, because I coincidentally have a nervous disorder where this is broken - an increase in heart rate will drop my blood pressure. A drop in blood pressure will also increase my heart rate, which then drops my blood pressure, which causes a runaway and I faint.