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Nuclear-Powered Cardiac Pacemakers

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Re: Nuclear-Powered Cardiac Pacemakers

#111

Post by sgtnoodle »

mlyle wrote: post #36
konschubert wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I read this as: Most patients don’t survive those 10 years anyways.

A number don't. But as far as the number that needs some kind of pacemaker tune-up or revision during that time-- it's a really big share.

If battery life doesn't improve much, I don't die prematurely, and I continue to materially benefit from having an implant, I personally could be realistically looking at 3 replacement devices and at least one lead replacement over the years. In the unlikely event that I suffer from ventricle enlargement long term, I'd need two more leads installed as well.

Re: Nuclear-Powered Cardiac Pacemakers

#112

Post by triceratops »

foobiekr wrote: post #52
ssizn wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quoted post unavailable.

The kids weren't scavengers. There are so many things we could have if we actually could somehow have faith that the required (for safety, pollution mitigation, etc.) full lifecycle was actually honored. Instead, everything is dominated by lazy jerks. The other day, I noticed my neighbor's house painter digging a hole. I said hello and asked what was up, and he said "Yes, I need to dispose of the water and paint from…

Should've reported him.

Re: Nuclear-Powered Cardiac Pacemakers

#113

Post by [deleted] »

tom_ wrote: post #105
cududa wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The absolutely arrogance to assume a keyboard switch and a pace maker are anywhere near the same thing…

Indeed, the keyboard switch people have to produce a device that's manufacturable at scale for pennies per unit, and can be fitted in unforgiving environments by the untrained.

[deleted]

Re: Nuclear-Powered Cardiac Pacemakers

#114

Post by WastingMyTime89 »

konschubert wrote: post #19
mysterydip wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> allowing for doctors to check in on their patients and replace either the batteries or the pacemakers themselves I cynically read this as "we needed to get more money out of these patients"

I read this as: Most patients don’t survive those 10 years anyways.

The figures surrounding pacemakers are hard to interpret. Most people are fitted extremely late in their life following serious cardiac incidents.

My understanding is that people diagnosed with bradycardia young can expect to survive a long time with the device.

Re: Nuclear-Powered Cardiac Pacemakers

#115

Post by toss1 »

leeoniya wrote: post #80
toss1 wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A friend had one of these units that extended his life for over a decade. He had it upgraded at least once, and the programing updated several times, and noted improvements each time (although he never got the one feature he really wanted [0]). So active maintenance is definitely not spurious or mercenary but is genuinely useful. [0] When the pacemaker detected a problematic arrhythmia it would give a couple of defib…

> He wanted a feature where it would tingle or beep or something just a few seconds ahead of time so he could mentally prepare; apparently the second one that was expected was a lot less traumatic. reminds me of the pre-safe sound prior to collision https://www.mercedesbenzofnatick.com/new-features-mercedes-b...

Yes, it does — Thx for reminding me of that!

Re: Nuclear-Powered Cardiac Pacemakers

#116

Post by WastingMyTime89 »

toss1 wrote: post #43
mysterydip wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> allowing for doctors to check in on their patients and replace either the batteries or the pacemakers themselves I cynically read this as "we needed to get more money out of these patients"

A friend had one of these units that extended his life for over a decade. He had it upgraded at least once, and the programing updated several times, and noted improvements each time (although he never got the one feature he really wanted [0]). So active maintenance is definitely not spurious or mercenary but is genuinely useful. [0] When the pacemaker detected a problematic arrhythmia it would give a couple of defib…

That’s an implantable cardiac defibrillator not a pacemaker. Completely different things.

Re: Nuclear-Powered Cardiac Pacemakers

#117

Post by bobbob1921 »

toss1 wrote: post #43
mysterydip wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> allowing for doctors to check in on their patients and replace either the batteries or the pacemakers themselves I cynically read this as "we needed to get more money out of these patients"

A friend had one of these units that extended his life for over a decade. He had it upgraded at least once, and the programing updated several times, and noted improvements each time (although he never got the one feature he really wanted [0]). So active maintenance is definitely not spurious or mercenary but is genuinely useful. [0] When the pacemaker detected a problematic arrhythmia it would give a couple of defib…

I’m not clear on what he was supposed to do in response to this. Is it a situation where if he were to sit down and relax he could resolve the arrhythmia? Or is this a notification mechanisms that he can then alert his doctors? (My question is why was this designed to be an extreme “notification “)?

Re: Nuclear-Powered Cardiac Pacemakers

#118

Post by NikolaNovak »

hwillis wrote: post #33
mysterydip wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> allowing for doctors to check in on their patients and replace either the batteries or the pacemakers themselves I cynically read this as "we needed to get more money out of these patients"

You really should not. 60 beats per minute means that in ten years the leads of a pacemaker will be bent *315 million* times. That's an order of magnitude higher than we typically test fatigue resistance, and even if we were that confident about being able to produce flawless materials, there are millions of different enzymes and acids and temperature fluctuations in the body. Any one of those could impact the fatigu…

>>"changes size significantly when you sleep."

Wait,what??

Re: Nuclear-Powered Cardiac Pacemakers

#119

Post by DonHopkins »

ssizn wrote: post #25
Bakary wrote: post #17

Tragically relevant story to accompany this article: the Goiânia accident. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goi%C3%A2nia_accident

Quoted post unavailable.

Maybe so, and I admire the modesty of your proposal, but it's just not safe to eat the children of poor people if they're radioactive, you know.

Re: Nuclear-Powered Cardiac Pacemakers

#120

Post by WastingMyTime89 »

dqpb wrote: post #40
Bakary wrote: post #17

Tragically relevant story to accompany this article: the Goiânia accident. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goi%C3%A2nia_accident

> stolen from an abandoned hospital site in the city Is it “stealing” if it’s abandoned?

I think putting it this way absolves the Brazilian government too much. What happened is 100% their fault.

The hospital moved to a new site but as there was disagreement with their previous landlord they were prevented to move equipments by the police despite trying to secure the source which was later stolen and having repeatedly warned of its danger.

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