Home with a bug of some sort.. got lots done.. now in one of those kinda fever zoneout states..

Just got off the phone with Billy.. Mr Lewis continues to do well. He’s able to communicate by drawing.. he’s watching lots of TV and getting stronger each day.. What must be going through his mind ?

Billy just posted some pictures from the development of the artificial heart.. part of which he made in his garage (not kidding !)

Here’s the starting point.. a heartmate left ventricular assist device.. these are used to boost the output of someone with a sick heart.. until they get better or get a transplant.. some folks walk around with these attached to their heart for  as much as 6 years..

Here are the dacron patterns for the input and output cannula.

sewn around a form

Mid assembly (I think this is an older model.. that’s an older heartmate, I think)

the valves at the top

The two heartmates next to each other.. one for pulinary flow, the other to perfuse the body

just like a real heart…

Compared to one of the most successful artificial hearts to date.. the abiocore..

note how much smaller.. and only 2 moving parts !!!

Here are Billy and Bud putting the heart in Mr Lewis.. or in a cow.. I can’t tell

and here is Mr Lewis’s xray right after..

I’m just so amazed at this..

Billy.. We’re all so proud of you… Tell Mr Lewis that we’re all rooting for him !!

note all, nite sam

-me