The ambition to create a heart that works with nuclear energy by American scientists

For more than a decade, scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NHI) and the US Atomic Energy Agency (AEC) have been pursuing the dream of designing an eternal energy heart with atomic energy. Hopefully this will be the perfect solution to replace the sick human heart.

In fact, since 1967, researchers have been thinking of developing a mechanical heart that works with radioactive decay energy. The solution to use conventional battery power to provide artificial heart activity has faced two major drawbacks: first there is a tendency to generate too much heat. In addition, periodic charging is required and the maximum life span is only about 2 years.

A heart operated by atomic energy can help patients spend tens of years.

In contrast, a heart operated by atomic energy can help patients spend tens of years without connecting to external charging power. The nuclear heart is powered by Plutonium-238 - an element capable of emitting stable heat sources for nearly a century thanks to its natural disintegration. It is known that this element has been used for space satellites as well as a number of navigation and positioning devices. This is also the fuel for Pluto New Horizons spacecraft, Voyager to Mars or Curiosity self-propelled ships also use this fuel.

For that reason, two independent research groups from NHI and AEC believe that energy from the nucleus can be harnessed to help the heart pump blood throughout the human body. However, it is only an idea and implementation is challenging and challenging. First, researchers must find a way to develop a pump system that the human body does not eliminate. In addition, they have to find a safe, efficient motor to operate the pumping process by converting heat energy into mechanical energy.

Both hearts developed by two research groups face challenging problems.

About NHI, they came up with a solution to develop an artificial semi-heart to support infected hearts but still beat. This system consists of two parts: a non-nuclear pump system will be built first, then a nuclear engine will be added later. On the contrary, the EAC side chose to develop a pump and motor system that is powered by nuclear power and replace the entire sick heart for almost permanent use in the patient's body.

After 5 years of development, both hearts developed by two research groups face challenging problems. The heart of the AEC is still very cumbersome and also ineffective. Whereas NHI's heart has a technical error, it always overheats, thereby causing blood to clump up and hinder circulation. And this is just one of many shortcomings in the design process. Researchers still have to solve both the safety and moral aspects of installing an atomic device inside the human body.

After more than 10 years of research, this idea is still an idea.

Effects when exposed to radiation, although low doses, must still be clarified before everything is applied. Many people believe that the active heart by Plutonium can bring patients to many different health risks, including leukemia. At the same time people who are often close to patients such as health workers, colleagues or relatives are also at risk of radiation poisoning. And not to mention some criminals can even use atomic hearts to turn into nuclear weapons.

And after more than 10 years of research, this idea is still an idea. Still, researchers continue to pursue the dream of creating an artificial heart with full functionality. Some, although quite a few biotech companies such as SynCardia, Carmat and AbioCor, are still developing a device to replace the patient's diseased heart and will be able to use it for the rest of their lives. .

And whether or not it is a nuclear energy heart , putting a device into a long-term operation in the human body without any external effects is still a lot of difficulties. The best option at the moment is still the patient waiting for a human heart suitable for their transplant. And perhaps, it's still a long time before new technology can replace real things, especially those created from the magic of nature.