The World’s First Heartless Human, Living Without A Pulse

A 55-year-old gentleman named Craig Lewis, suffering from a life-threatening condition known as amyloidosis, was admitted to the Texas Heart Institute. This rare disease, characterized by the accumulation of an abnormal protein called amyloid in the organs, had severely compromised his heart's functionality. Amyloid is produced in the bone marrow and can be deposited in any tissue or organ, leading to serious complications.



The Breakthrough Solution

Fortunately, Dr. Billy Cohn and Dr. Bud Frazier, two pioneering surgeons at the Texas Heart Institute, devised an innovative solution to save Mr. Lewis's life. They developed a "continuous flow" device that allows blood to circulate through the body without a pulse. This groundbreaking device was designed to replace the function of a failing heart by maintaining a steady, uninterrupted flow of blood.

The procedure involved removing Mr. Lewis's heart and connecting the continuous flow device in its place. Remarkably, on the same day of the surgery, Mr. Lewis was awake, alert, and conversing with the doctors. The device, a combination of two ventricular assist devices (VADs), operates by spinning blood through the body in a continuous flow rather than the traditional pulsing action of a natural heart.

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The Device and Its Inventors

Dr. Billy Cohn, an expert surgeon, inventor, and scientist, has dedicated much of his career to developing technologies that can replace or repair the human heart. One of his most notable inventions is the Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD), which has been used successfully in patients with severe heart conditions.

In collaboration with Dr. Bud Frazier, Dr. Cohn extended the technology of LVADs to create a device that replicates the functions of both the right and left ventricles of the heart. Their innovation involved intricately connecting two VADs to replace the entire heart, ensuring continuous blood flow without the need for a pulse.

To test their device, Cohn and Frazier conducted experiments on 70 calves. The results were astonishing: despite showing a flat line on an EKG, indicating no heart rate or pulse, the calves exhibited normal behavior. They ate, interacted, and functioned perfectly without a heartbeat, demonstrating the device's effectiveness in maintaining life.

Implications and Future Prospects

The successful implementation of the continuous flow device in Craig Lewis marks a significant milestone in cardiac surgery and medical technology. This innovation not only saved his life but also opened new possibilities for treating patients with severe heart conditions who may not be eligible for traditional heart transplants or who suffer from diseases like amyloidosis.

Dr. Cohn and Dr. Frazier's work underscores the importance of continuous research and innovation in medical science. By pushing the boundaries of what is possible, they have provided a glimpse into a future where mechanical devices can seamlessly take over the functions of failing organs, offering hope to countless patients.

Conclusion

The case of Craig Lewis and the continuous flow device developed by Dr. Billy Cohn and Dr. Bud Frazier exemplifies the extraordinary potential of medical innovation. As technology continues to advance, the ability to replace or augment failing organs with mechanical devices will likely become more common, transforming the landscape of medical treatment and improving the quality of life for many patients. This breakthrough is a testament to the ingenuity and dedication of the medical community in their relentless pursuit of solutions to some of the most challenging health problems.

 

WOW, Amazing!

 

Increadible stuff but I have a question. If the brain regulates fat burning based on heart rate how will the brain decide what to burn and convert fuel wise say during excising, for example a very facepaced paced awalk or slow jog to allow the brain to choose to convert fat to energy, were higher is muscle building and max effort is burning and fast burn fuels in the body such as proteins ?

 

He’s has a permanent tracheostomy, and is connected to dialysis via a CVC. What quality of life can this man expect to have? What were the co-morbidities that accompanied the amyloidosis? What level does he function on cognitively?

 

This is certainly amazing. Something that has been a long time coming.
My question is going to involve maintenence.

 

That's awesome but that dude isn't looking to good. I have a lot of questions w this though. Like is that tracheotomy permanent & does he have to go to the hospital everyday for dialysis. I hope this works for him & he gets stronger & healthier. Kudos to the doctors for finding alternative ways to treat ppl.

 

This was back in 2011. The man had 12 hours to live when they performed the surgery and he got just over another month where he was able to talk to and say goodbye to his friends and loved one before the underlying disease caused his death... (the pumps were still working when his body had died)

 

He died a month after the surgery... this was back in 2011.

 

The brain performs this task through an algorithmic biochemical process. The algorithm involved for this particular task should not be overly complicated, and once decoded such an algorithm could easily be utilized to communicate this task to the brain.