No Pulse

Man with no pulse considered a medical breakthrough -
A 65-year-old Quebec man who received a new long-term mechanical heart last month is being described as the only living Canadian without a pulse. Dr. Renzo Cecere implanted the “Heartmate II” mechanical heart into Gerard Langevin in a three-hour operation Nov. 23. Officials at the McGill University Health Centre say the device, which is about the size of a flashlight battery, could last up to 10 years. That is longer than other models which are thought to be good for only two or three years. The new mechanical heart, which is powered by batteries located in pouches on Mr. Langevin's body, provides a continuous flow of blood so the patient has no pulse. (The Globe and Mail www.theglobeandmail.com 12/11/07)

• Doctors warn heavy sleepers that are receiving the new devices to be careful about falling asleep in public. This is after two gentleman fell asleep - on the subway and the other on a park bench - and woke up in the morgue.
• One recommended solution is to tattoo "I'm not dead" on the left side of your chest.
• This also shows how technology effects culture as the phrase "be-still my beating heart" gives way to "disconnect the batteries to my non-beating heart" in valentines cards.
• Shall we consider the article's title for a moment - medicine has been producing patients with no pulse for hundreds of years but we never considered it reason to celebrate.
• So do you think there is _any_ chance of this guy being able to make it through airport security?