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New ‘Box’ Keeps Hearts En Route for Transplant Beating

Sep. 1, 2011 11:30pm Liz Klimas

It’s alive — or at least looks like it is! Until now, hearts en route for transplant were kept in coolers. Ronald Regan UCLA Medical Center is beginning clinical trials to use a box that will keep the heart beating increasing the likelihood it will be accepted by the body of the recipient.

A heart can only be kept on ice for six hours to be viable for a transplant. As reported by Dvice, this Organ Care System, created by Transmedics, keeps a supply of donated blood pumping through the heart. This gives the doctors more time to find the best recipient for the heart and increases the potential for transporting hearts long distances.

Watch it beat here:

Take a look at one of the first transplant recipients to receive a heart this way:

The jury is still out on if this technology will be as good as or better than the cooler method. Seems like a no brainer.

(H/T Gizmodo)

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Comments (18)

StandOnYourTwoFeet
Posted on September 4, 2011 at 11:00am
You know, this is kinf of disturbing. I know people want to live long lives. But at what point do we say enough is enough? What next, do we remove a persons brain from a dead body and replace in it one who donates their body? I will decline this thank you! I know we want our loved ones with us, because we are selfish individuals. Quality, not quanity people! God makes us how we are, when our time comes I dont think we should stop that process. I am not affriad of death, I’m more affraid of what they will do to stop my death! We compromise eternal life for what, years of medication and theres no certainty we will survive these things… I am not a guinie pig! I am one of God children, I would prefer to be in his presents! The old saying if you run with the Devil you’ll never walk in the promise land! Ch Ch whats missing UR…..

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- Dennis
  Posted on September 4, 2011 at 1:47pm
  I certaintly see your point re:when enough medical intervention is enough already?
  One of the many wonderful titles given Jesus is “The Great Physician”
  Luke the evangilest was also a physician. He used a medical vocabulary instinctively.
  Do you take prescription medications when you have an infection? Ever had stitches?
  I’m sure you and I would have spent our days long ago without what is today considered simple medical intervention.
  Perhaps this new type of heart intervention will appear common place one day as well.
  One comfort for sure mankind may advance but Christ will never surrender his surpreme rule,throne of grace mercy and Kingdom Authority in all matters.
  
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Angry-Elf
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 10:42am
What a great idea! Why didn’t I think of that?

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ida-russkie
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 9:28am
sounds like they drain more then a pint of blood from the doner so the waste takes along time to buildup in the blood. Most likely they only add oxygen to the blood in route.

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johnj1952
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 12:29pm
It is a muscle, and as such should be kept as viable as possible until it is put into a recipient. Mediacal science is trying so hard to make us all live healther, this is just a small example of the progress being made.

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Islesfordian
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 12:19pm
Improved technology for an essentially vampirish procedure. Life that requires death of another is a poor form of medicine. Our collapsing bio-ethics are no accident.

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- eagle275
  Posted on September 2, 2011 at 9:49pm
  Oh really? I have a close frind who had a heart transplant. He got his from a 17 yr old young man who passed away tragically, and whose family deide to donate his organs, giving life to many people. You can’t use your organs in Heaven, and when have you stared Death in the face, keyboard hero? Better watch what you ask fore, you might just get it.
  
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- StandOnYourTwoFeet
  Posted on September 4, 2011 at 11:01am
  I so agree :)
  
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ejbonk
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 12:01pm
The Problem is that ,if the blood supply is not kept oxygenated,and refreshed with vital nutrients,while removing waste product from the Heart Muscle this will not keep a heart alive for very long. You will still need to Ice the Heart Down to slow it rate of using up both oxygen,nutrients and production of waste material. This not a Full Proof Solution.

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DanWesson455
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 10:31am
Chuck Norris’s Heart can live forever outside his chest. If you think that is a lie, it will back kick you into unconsciousness.

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- ryan
  Posted on September 2, 2011 at 10:57am
  LOL! Good One!
  
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- eagle275
  Posted on September 2, 2011 at 9:50pm
  Good one! LOL!
  
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ConservativeChristianB1954
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 9:31am
I had cornea transplants in both eyes in the early 80′s. Today, I see 20/25 and 20/30. Back then, there were no eye banks only volunteers who would rush the eyes to the hospitals. Today, they have eye banks and ship whole eyes in special ice chests.

How do you say thank you for your eyesight? You can’t but I at least try by driving eyes to hospitals myself. I have driven eyes up to 350 miles before to help someone get the gift of sight. You know what my opinion on this will be without me even having to tell you. God bless the donors, their families and volunteers who give so much to help people in their times of need.

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HTuttle
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 6:44am
From a $5 Walmart cooler to a million dollar HeartBeaterBox™.
Go modern medical costs!

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- Grim Spirit
  Posted on September 2, 2011 at 10:28am
  What value the Human Heart?
  
  If this technology prove viable, you’re looking at increasing the transport time, thus increasing the likelyhood of finding more perfect recipient by increasing the number of people the organ can reach. The surgeons will not need to be in a hurry to crack open someones chest because they have TIME.
  
  Plus this technology could very be utilized for other organs, too.
  
  I think it deserved to be tested, and if successfull, put into use.
  
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HTuttle
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 6:38am
Another step closer to ZOMBIES!!!!!!!

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KickinBack
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:43pm
Edgar Allen Poe’s “Tell Tale Heart” scared the crap out of me when I was a kid. That would be creepy transporting it.

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- biohazard23
  Posted on September 2, 2011 at 5:17am
  “You fancy me mad. Madmen know nothing. But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded –with what caution –with what foresight –with what dissimulation I went to work! I was never kinder to the old man than during the whole week before I killed him….”
  
  Yeah, I can see how that would freak you out! The Cask of Amontillado is the one that got to me.
  
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