Arktis Posted November 23, 2005 Share Posted November 23, 2005 http://www.foresight.org/Nanomedicine/Gallery/Species/Respirocytes.html The respirocyte is a bloodborne 1-micron-diameter spherical nanomedical device designed by Robert A. Freitas Jr.. The device acts as an artificial mechanical red blood cell It is designed as a diamondoid 1000-atmosphere pressure vessel with active pumping powered by endogenous serum glucose, and can deliver 236 times more oxygen to the tissues per unit volume than natural red cells while simultaneously managing carbonic acidity. Wow. So far, what I've learned about these things is that they can enable you to survive a very, very long time without having to take a breath. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TetsuoShima Posted November 23, 2005 Share Posted November 23, 2005 Interesting, but to built it, is still a bit out of our technical reach I'd imagine, at least in such a way that a production facility could be set up. I also wonder how the human immune system would respond to these things.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philly Posted November 24, 2005 Share Posted November 24, 2005 I dont think the immune system would like it very much. Considering its an foriegn object,cells might attack the device. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taleitha Posted November 24, 2005 Share Posted November 24, 2005 immune systems are easier to trick than you think. If the respirocyte had a molecular coating (which is already possible to do) that mimicked the DNA of the recipient, then the immune system would be tricked. What kicks off an immune system is a molecule that has a molecular coating that differs from the host. That's why viruses infect blood cells and use the blood cell itself to replicate. Viruses trick the body into ignoring the infected blood cell. Basically you need to make the nanocyte mimick virus behaviour. That sounds so dodgy... :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oma Posted November 24, 2005 Share Posted November 24, 2005 Oh my....very impressive! Well, of course, I do have some annoying questions I'd ask my doctor before submitting..he he: Do the rotors get stuck if other molecules try to enter? And should I use WD-40 and a syringe, then? If you are fasting for an extended period of time will they run out of fuel and cease to function (low blood glucose levels)? In a case of starvation will they compete with the brain for glucose? What material will they be made of (do I choke if I play with magnets?)? :p Does the nanocomputer have a firewall?:o Can the body get rid of broken respirocytes? Will it say *clonk* when I pee? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quosego Posted November 24, 2005 Share Posted November 24, 2005 In a case of starvation will they compete with the brain for glucose? That's a good question, I mean you would be stuck with lot's of o2 but no glucose, that would kinda kill ya... So if you would have some defective units who go all crazy producing o2. you would be eating sweet stuff all day to keep those things working and supply enough glucose to support the rest of your body... Hmm, i'm not yet gonna sign up for those thingies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GhostShadow Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 This would be a great device for thoes old ppl who have thoes oxygen tanks and drive around King soppers in theos carts. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arktis Posted December 13, 2005 Author Share Posted December 13, 2005 I was thinking along the same lines. This kind of technology may be usable for people who have problems with low red blood cell counts... however, this still leaves the problem of clotting. We need red blood cells to clot when we get injured, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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