We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Medicine

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

How Long Can Someone Live With a Titanium Heart?

Margaret Lipman
By
Published: Mar 19, 2025
Views: 366
Share

In a world first, an Australian man spent over 100 days with an artificial titanium heart in his chest while waiting for a human heart transplant. The man, who is in his 40s and hails from New South Wales, has chosen to remain anonymous. In November 2024, suffering from severe heart failure and with no donor heart available, he volunteered to be fitted with an artificial heart at St. Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, where transplant cardiologists performed a six-hour surgery to implant the titanium device.

The patient was discharged in February 2025 and remained under the close supervision of doctors, yet he was able to live a relatively normal life at home until he finally received a donor heart the following month. Doctors say that he is recovering well after the transplant.

In addition to being the longest period of time that someone has survived with a titanium heart (105 days), this is also the first case in which the patient was able to leave the hospital and go home with the device implanted.

The device, the BiVACOR Total Artificial Heart (TAH), was invented by Australian biomedical engineer Daniel Timms, who was inspired to create it after his father’s death from heart failure. The BiVACOR TAH weighs around 1.5 pounds (680 grams) and takes the place of both heart ventricles, pumping blood throughout the body at regular intervals. Its only moving part is a levitated rotor suspended by magnets, so it experiences very little wear and tear. The power for the rotor comes from an external device that connects through the patient's chest and has a 4-hour battery life; it can also be plugged into an electrical outlet. Timms, the inventor, hopes that eventually the BiVACOR TAH will be able to operate without the need for external charging.

Although it has not yet been approved for general use, the Total Artificial Heart's success suggests that it could eventually become viable as a long-term option for people waiting for a suitable donor heart. There is a huge need for such devices, as cardiovascular diseases are the world’s leading cause of death, and demand for heart transplants usually outpaces the availability of donor organs. Biomedical engineers and transplant cardiologists are hopeful that devices like the BiVACOR Total Artificial Heart might one day reduce or even replace the need for human heart transplants.

The (heart)beat goes on:

  • The BiVACOR Total Artificial Heart was successfully tested last year on five U.S. patients, all men in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, who were waiting for donor transplants. However, unlike the Australian case, the U.S. patients spent less than a month with the BiVACOR TAH implanted before receiving a donor heart, and they never left the hospital during that period.

  • The U.S. Food and Drug Administration now plans to expand the trial to include more patients. Researchers think that if this is successful, the TAH could be made widely available within four or five years.

  • Nearly 7 million Americans suffer from heart failure, a serious condition in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood to support the body’s various organs.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Margaret Lipman
By Margaret Lipman
With years of experience as an educator, Margaret Lipman produces thoughtful and informative content across a wide range of topics. Her articles cover essential areas such as finance, parenting, health and wellness, nutrition, educational strategies. Margaret's writing is guided by her passion for enriching the lives of her readers through practical advice and well-researched information.
Discussion Comments
Margaret Lipman
Margaret Lipman
With years of experience as an educator, Margaret Lipman produces thoughtful and informative content across a wide range...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.com/how-long-can-someone-survive-with-a-titanium-heart.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.