An Australian man with severe heart failure has become the first person outside the United States to receive the BiVACOR Total Artificial Heart implant, living over 100 days with the device before undergoing a successful heart transplant.
The patient, in his 40s, received the implant during surgery at St. Vincent’s Hospital Sydney last November. The titanium heart sustained him until a donor organ became available, leading to a successful heart transplant on March 6.
The BiVACOR Total Artificial Heart, invented by Australian biomedical engineer Dr. Daniel Timms, is the first implantable rotary blood pump designed to completely replace a human heart using magnetic levitation technology.
This groundbreaking procedure, led by surgeons Dr. Paul Jansz and cardiologist Professor Chris Hayward, marks a significant milestone in Australian medical history. The mechanical heart functions as a replacement for the native heart and aims to assist patients while they await donor organs.
The implant is designed for patients with end-stage biventricular heart failure and aims to provide long-term support without the need for a heart transplant.
This life-saving technology is part of the Artificial Heart Frontiers Program, supported by Monash University and funded by a $50 million Australian government grant. The development is expected to revolutionize heart transplants, providing an alternative for those unable to secure donor hearts.
Dr. Timms’ invention took years of development, driven by personal stakes as his father struggled with heart failure. The innovative heart design marks a significant breakthrough in artificial organ technology, potentially offering a durable alternative to heart transplants.
The success of this procedure offers hope to patients who cannot await donor hearts, marking a significant advancement in the treatment of heart failure.
