Bluetooth Pumps are coming!

[sambalamba]

I hope this is real news. Science is working to improve, and there's nothing stopping those who oppose continuing with today's "old implants." It's better to have more options on the market. I believe this system will lead to: 1. fewer ruptures/revisions; 2. fewer infections; 3. no pump in the testicles; 4. ease of use. We've had pacemakers since 1958, with batteries that are replaced every 10 years. Why not have a Bluetooth pump after 68 years? The battery could be implanted in a quiet spot, where it can be replaced with a small, routine incision.

There is patent filed by Boston Scientific on this pump.

https://patents.google.com/patent/US20180110623A1/en

Many patents don't translate into actual products. But BSC also has similar technology for Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson's disease, Spinal Cord Stimulation, Peripheral Nerve Stimulation, Cardiac rhythm devices.

I won't be surprised if an actual device appears sooner rather than later.

[sambalamba]

Yes! Bullet-proof the existing devices first. Once they get the *average* time before revision to 20+ years, THEN start on the Buck Rogers innovations.

I’m not sure there’s enough financial incentive to make these devices truly “bullet proof.” If implants routinely lasted 25–30+ years with very low revision rates, a significant portion of future replacement revenue would disappear.

From a business standpoint, introducing new technologies and features that encourage upgrades is probably more attractive than simply maximizing longevity of the existing designs.