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.
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.
Very cool, thanks for the insights. Its really amazing how far prosthetics have come in the last years