Man Survives 100 Days with Artificial Titanium Heart
An Australian man in his 40s has made history by living for 100 days with an artificial titanium heart before receiving a donor transplant. This marks a significant step forward in the treatment of heart failure and offers new hope for patients awaiting transplants.
The BiVACOR Artificial Heart – A Revolutionary Device
The patient received the BiVACOR Total Artificial Heart at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney in November. This device, created by Australian bioengineer Dr. Daniel Timms, is unique because it uses magnetic levitation technology to simulate natural blood flow. Unlike traditional artificial hearts, it has only one moving part—a rotor held in place by magnets—reducing wear and improving longevity.
Dr. Timms, who developed the device in memory of his late father, expressed his excitement, saying, “It is exhilarating to see years of dedication turn into reality. The courage of this patient and his family will help countless others benefit from this life-saving technology.”
A Successful Implantation and Recovery
The surgery, performed by cardiothoracic and transplant surgeon Dr. Paul Jansz, lasted six hours. The patient recovered well and was discharged from the hospital in February, making him the first person in the world to live outside a hospital with a fully artificial heart. In early March, he successfully received a donor heart transplant.
Hope for Heart Failure Patients
Heart failure affects over 23 million people globally, yet only around 6,000 donor hearts are available each year. The BiVACOR artificial heart serves as a temporary solution for patients awaiting transplants, and researchers hope it could eventually become a long-term alternative for those who cannot receive a donor’s heart.
Professor Chris Hayward from the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute described this trial as a “game-changer,” saying, “The BiVACOR Total Artificial Heart introduces a new era in heart transplants. Within a decade, we may see artificial hearts as a standard option for patients who cannot get a donor’s heart.”
Advancing Artificial Heart Technology
The Australian government has invested AU$50 million in the Artificial Heart Frontiers Program, which is conducting trials on three different artificial heart devices. The BiVACOR heart has already been evaluated in the United States under the Food and Drug Administration’s Early Feasibility Study. The previous longest survival with the device was 27 days, making this Australian case the most successful to date.
This achievement demonstrates the potential of artificial hearts to revolutionize cardiac treatment. As technology continues to evolve, artificial hearts could soon become a viable solution for thousands of heart failure patients worldwide.
Source: Inputs from various media Sources
Priya Bairagi
Reviewed by Dr Aarti Nehra (MBBS, MMST)
I’m a pharmacist with a strong background in health sciences. I hold a BSc from Delhi University and a pharmacy degree from PDM University. I write articles and daily health news while interviewing doctors to bring you the latest insights. In my free time, you’ll find me at the gym or lost in a sci-fi novel.
