[rwz]

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.

[mytailorisrich]

> 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

[rwz]

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]

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.

[xwdv]

> 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.

[SirHound]

Probably just continue to enjoy my life

[layoutIfNeeded]

Absolutely: https://giphy.com/gifs/ghost-shell-outghost-fsoCk5kgOcYMM