This successful implant is not just a milestone for the patient, but also for the medical community. The first BiVACOR total artificial heart implant was performed in July 2024 at the Texas Heart Institute in the United States
In a groundbreaking medical achievement, an Australian man has become the first person in the world to live with a durable total artificial heart implant for more than 100 days. The patient, who remains unidentified, has now been discharged from the hospital after undergoing a six-hour procedure at St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney on November 22, 2024. The artificial heart, made of titanium, is the BiVACOR total artificial heart, and it is the first of its kind in Australia and the sixth globally.
This monumental success represents a significant milestone in the field of heart failure treatment. According to a joint statement from St Vincent’s Hospital, Monash University, and BiVACOR, the implant was “an unmitigated clinical success.” The device was designed to serve as a bridge, keeping patients alive while they await a donor heart transplant, which is often in short supply. For this particular patient, the device allowed him to survive for 105 days before he received a donor heart transplant in early March 2025.
The procedure’s success highlights the potential of the BiVACOR total artificial heart as a transformative solution for patients suffering from severe heart failure. The implant is a revolutionary medical device that is the world’s first implantable rotary blood pump. Using magnetic levitation technology, the device serves as a complete replacement for a human heart. Unlike conventional heart pumps or left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), which are designed to help the heart pump blood, the BiVACOR device entirely replaces the function of the heart, offering a potential solution for patients who cannot wait for a donor heart.
This successful implant is not just a milestone for the patient, but also for the medical community. The first BiVACOR total artificial heart implant was performed in July 2024 at the Texas Heart Institute in the United States. Since then, four more implants have been carried out in the U.S., with the longest duration between implant and transplant being 27 days. The Australian patient’s 105-day survival with the device marks the longest time to date.
“Within the next decade, we will see the artificial heart becoming the alternative for patients who are unable to wait for a donor heart or when a donor heart is simply not available,” said Professor Chris Hayward, a cardiologist at St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney. Hayward believes the device’s success could drastically change the future of heart failure treatment, potentially saving millions of lives.
The need for such medical advancements is critical, as more than 23 million people worldwide suffer from heart failure, with fewer than 6,000 people globally receiving a donor heart each year. This severe imbalance has long left patients waiting for life-saving transplants, often with deteriorating health while awaiting availability. The BiVACOR artificial heart offers a promising solution, filling the gap and providing patients with an opportunity for survival until a suitable donor heart can be found.
The design and technology behind the BiVACOR artificial heart are also significant innovations in their own right. The heart uses a magnetic levitation technology to pump blood, minimizing mechanical wear and tear and allowing for longer-lasting functionality. This advanced feature sets it apart from other heart failure devices currently in use, which often have limited durability.
The success of the Australian patient’s procedure represents just the beginning of what could become a widely adopted solution for heart failure patients worldwide. Professor Hayward is optimistic that the BiVACOR total artificial heart will play a major role in addressing the heart donor shortage. “The demand for donor hearts continues to exceed the supply, and solutions like the BiVACOR artificial heart could bridge this gap, offering patients a lifeline until a donor heart is available.”
As BiVACOR continues to improve the technology and expand its clinical use, the future of heart failure treatment looks brighter. Experts hope that, within a decade, artificial heart implants will become a common alternative for patients suffering from severe heart failure who have few other treatment options. This achievement underscores not only the remarkable advancements in medical technology but also the potential for life-saving solutions for those who are facing the toughest challenges in heart disease.
