An Australian man lived for 100 days with an artificial titanium heart while awaiting a transplant, setting a new record for the longest period anyone has used this technology. The patient, a man in his 40s who chose to remain anonymous, received the implant during surgery at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney last November.
In February, he became the first person worldwide to leave the hospital with the device, which kept him alive until a heart donor was found earlier this month.
A statement released on March 12 by St. Vincent’s Hospital, Monash University, and BiVACOR, the US-Australian company behind the device, confirmed that the man, who had severe heart failure, is “recovering well.” The device’s ability to sustain him for such an extended period is being hailed as a promising sign that the artificial heart could become a long-term solution for people suffering from heart failure. However, the device is still in trial and has not yet been approved for general use.
BiVACOR’s founder, Australian bioengineer Daniel Timms, who created the device after his father’s death from heart disease, expressed his excitement, saying, “It’s exhilarating to see decades of work come to fruition.” He added, “The entire BiVACOR team is deeply grateful to the patient and his family for placing their trust in our Total Artificial Heart. Their bravery will pave the way for countless more patients to receive this lifesaving technology.”
The BiVACOR Total Artificial Heart (TAH) uses a single moving part, a levitated rotor held in place by magnets. Made from titanium, the heart has no valves or mechanical bearings, reducing the risk of wear. It replaces both ventricles of a failing heart, pumping blood to the body and lungs.
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally, killing about 18 million people each year, according to the World Health Organization. The long-term goal is to use the device to help those who are waiting for a donor heart. In 2024, around 4,400 people were added to the waiting list for heart transplants in the US, while only 3,500 people received a transplant that year.
Professor Chris Hayward from the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute said the BiVACOR heart represents a “whole new ball game” for heart transplants. “Within the next decade, we will see the artificial heart becoming the alternative for patients who cannot wait for a donor heart or when a donor heart is simply unavailable,” said Hayward, who is overseeing the Australian patient’s recovery and was involved in preparing the device for clinical trials.
The device has also been tested in the FDA’s Early Feasibility Study in the United States, where five patients successfully received the implant.