A Beating Heart In A Box Looks Terrifying, Could Save Your Life

If I ever needed a heart transplant, seeing a living, tell-tale heart before before my eyes would probably scare me to death. But TransMedic’s unique organ care system could prove to keep that heart fresher for longer until you need it.

Presently, you can only keep your heart or stolen kidneys on ice for up to six hours before they become irreparably damaged. Freezer burn sucks. TransMedic’s method hooks the donor organ into an electromechanical physiologic environment that keeps it alive for longer. This way, doctors can keep the organs for longer while they shop appropriate recipients. Pretty cool. [DVICE]

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(6 Comments)
  • [–]

    olearymo

    Thursday, September 1, 2011 at 8:34 AM

    Step 1. Cut a hole in a box.

    Step 2. Put your heart in that box!

    Come on, really, I couldn’t resist.

    • [–]

      Jester

      Thursday, September 1, 2011 at 10:59 AM

      Brilliant!!

    • [–]

      EckyThump

      Thursday, September 1, 2011 at 11:10 AM

      I feel like I should know the reference, but it eludes me for the moment?

      • [–]

        olearymo

        Thursday, September 1, 2011 at 12:08 PM

        It’s a Saturday Night Live sketch. ‘My d**k in a box.’

        • [–]

          EckyThump

          Thursday, September 1, 2011 at 12:24 PM

          Ahh yes!

  • [–]

    IThoughtThisWasTheReference

    Sunday, September 4, 2011 at 2:36 PM

    Davy Jones’s Locker

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