An Australian man has successfully lived for 100 days with an artificial titanium heart while awaiting a donor transplant. This marks the longest period anyone has survived with this technology, which was implanted at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney last November.
- Australian man lived 100 days with artificial heart
- First patient to leave hospital with device
- Device offers potential long-term heart failure solution
- BiVACOR heart has single moving part design
- Cardiovascular diseases cause 18 million deaths annually
- Clinical trials aim to expand patient testing
The patient, who has chosen to remain anonymous, received the BiVACOR Total Artificial Heart (TAH) implant last November. In February, he became the first person globally to leave the hospital with the device, which has been crucial in sustaining his life until a suitable heart donor was found earlier this month. St. Vincent’s Hospital, Monash University, and BiVACOR have confirmed that the patient is recovering well.
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for approximately 18 million fatalities each year, according to the World Health Organization. The BiVACOR TAH is designed to replace both ventricles of a failing heart and features a single moving part, a levitated rotor held by magnets, minimizing wear and tear associated with traditional heart pumps.
The long-term goal of the BiVACOR device is to provide a viable option for patients on waiting lists for heart transplants. In the united states, about 3,500 heart transplants were performed in 2024, while around 4,400 individuals joined the waiting list. Experts believe that within the next decade, artificial hearts like the BiVACOR could become standard alternatives for patients unable to wait for a donor heart.
The successful use of the BiVACOR artificial heart in this case highlights the potential for technological advancements to address critical health challenges. As clinical trials continue, the hope is to expand the availability of this lifesaving technology to more patients in need.
