Well this seems interesting... So from my knowledge of high school honors bio, blood vessels have these long slow muscles that also help pump blood. If a heart pumps continuously, wouldn't that create back pressure on the vein/artery muscles, which would in turn increase your blood pressure whenever the vessel muscles contract to pump? And if you got an artificial heart, I'd think higher blood pressure is a bad thing?
From my quick research just now, it seems continuous flow hearts are not better because they pump differently. That's just a side effect with no benefit that's noted in studies. A continuous pump is much smaller, and for long-term total heart replacement, is the only thing that can be small enough to fit in the body. In fact, it's noted in a case study that they're not sure about the long term effects of not having pulses, and that's something that will need to be studied.
Now as far as the lungs - I think that would be a bad idea too. We'd need separate flow-through pathways to inhale and exhale. So two necks, or an exit hole in the chest. That takes up space and is another vector for infection. In addition, exhaling moisturizes the tissue, so you'd need much harsher intake tubes, and your exhale tubes would be constantly dripping water. All that extra space has to come from somewhere - meaning you now have less space for actual oxygenating tissue, resulting in worse oxygen capture. Now the diaphragm has to pump harder, because you're not extracting as much oxygen from your air intake.
Anywise, you had a funny comment, which I hopefully made funnier by responding to it seriously. We're a good team. Team Heart & Lungs they call us.
Yes, Medlife Crisis talks about the issue of continuous flow artifixcal heart and mentioned that work is happening on one than mimmics the heart better in one of his videos.
so when I google "medlife crisis continuous flow heart," the first result is your comment. the one i'm replying to right now. which is pretty funny. do you have a link or good thing to search for, because I can't find it on the 1st couple of pages of results. not "asking for a source" - just bored and looking for something to read.
From my quick research just now, it seems continuous flow hearts are not better because they pump differently. That's just a side effect with no benefit that's noted in studies. A continuous pump is much smaller, and for long-term total heart replacement, is the only thing that can be small enough to fit in the body. In fact, it's noted in a case study that they're not sure about the long term effects of not having pulses, and that's something that will need to be studied.
Now as far as the lungs - I think that would be a bad idea too. We'd need separate flow-through pathways to inhale and exhale. So two necks, or an exit hole in the chest. That takes up space and is another vector for infection. In addition, exhaling moisturizes the tissue, so you'd need much harsher intake tubes, and your exhale tubes would be constantly dripping water. All that extra space has to come from somewhere - meaning you now have less space for actual oxygenating tissue, resulting in worse oxygen capture. Now the diaphragm has to pump harder, because you're not extracting as much oxygen from your air intake.
Anywise, you had a funny comment, which I hopefully made funnier by responding to it seriously. We're a good team. Team Heart & Lungs they call us.