In a groundbreaking medical achievement, an Australian man with severe heart failure lived for over 100 days with a titanium artificial heart while awaiting a donor transplant. The patient, in his 40s, underwent the implantation of the BiVACOR Total Artificial Heart (TAH) at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney in November 2024.
This device, designed to replace the function of both ventricles, utilizes a magnetically levitated rotor to pump blood, mimicking the natural heart’s action. The patient became the first individual to be discharged from the hospital with this device, managing daily activities until a suitable donor heart became available. In early March 2025, he successfully received a donor heart and is currently recovering well.
The BiVACOR TAH represents a significant advancement in addressing the global shortage of donor hearts. Developed by Australian biomedical engineer Daniel Timms, the device offers a potential lifeline for patients with end-stage heart failure, serving as a bridge to transplant or possibly a long-term solution in the future.
This successful implantation and the patient’s subsequent recovery highlight the device’s potential to transform heart failure treatment, offering hope to thousands awaiting transplants worldwide.
Source: Nature
