New Era in Medicine: Man Survives 100 Days with Artificial Titanium Heart
New Era in Medicine: Man Survives 100 Days with Artificial Titanium Heart
A groundbreaking medical feat has been achieved in Australia, with a man in his 40s living for 100 days with an artificial titanium heart while awaiting a donor transplant. This marks the longest period anyone has ever survived with this technology. The patient, who chose to remain anonymous, received the implant at St. Vincent’s Hospital Sydney last November.
He made history in February by becoming the first person globally to leave the hospital with the device, relying on it to stay alive until a donor heart became available earlier this month. The man, who suffered from severe heart failure, is now recovering well, according to a statement released by St. Vincent’s Hospital, Monash University, and BiVACOR, the US-Australian company that developed the artificial heart.
The device’s ability to sustain him for so long is being celebrated as a sign that it could potentially offer a long-term option for people suffering from heart failure. While the device is still being trialed and has not yet been approved for general use, BiVACOR’s founder, Australian bioengineer Daniel Timms, who invented the device following his father’s death from heart disease, expressed his excitement, calling it “exhilarating to see decades of work come to fruition.”
“The BiVACOR team is extremely thankful to the patient and their family for having confidence in our Total Artificial Heart,” he mentioned in the statement. “Their courage will open doors for many more patients to benefit from this life-saving technology.”
How It Works?
The BiVACOR Total Artificial Heart (TAH) is a revolutionary device designed to replace a failing heart. It’s made of titanium and has only one moving part – a levitated rotor held in place by magnets. This unique design eliminates the need for valves and mechanical bearings, making it less prone to wear and tear.
The TAH pumps blood to both the body and the lungs, taking over the function of both ventricles of the heart. This innovative technology holds immense potential for saving lives, especially considering that cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally, claiming around 18 million lives each year.
The long-term goal is to use the TAH to help more people who are desperately waiting for suitable donor hearts. In 2024, approximately 3,500 people received heart transplants in the US, while 4,400 were added to the waiting list. Professor Chris Hayward from the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute believes that the BiVACOR heart marks a significant advancement in heart transplantation, opening up a new era of possibilities.
“Over the next ten years, we will witness the artificial heart becoming a viable option for patients who cannot wait for a donor heart or when one is not available,” said Hayward, who is managing the Australian patient’s recovery and was involved in preparing the device for clinical trials.
The BiVACOR TAH has already undergone testing in the United States through the Food and Drug Administration’s Early Feasibility Study. This study involved five patients who successfully received the device implant. The first recipient was a 58-year-old man suffering from end-stage heart failure who received the implant in July. The device kept him alive for eight days until a suitable donor heart became available. Four other patients followed, allowing researchers to evaluate the safety and performance of the TAH while they waited for donor transplants. The study is expected to expand to include 15 patients.
The recent implant in Australia marks the first in a series planned by Monash University’s Artificial Heart Frontiers Program. This ambitious program, funded with 50 million Australian dollars (approximately $31 million), aims to develop and commercialize three devices to treat heart failure.
