Titanium heart keeps a man alive for eight days for the first time in the world | Life & Knowledge
A titanium heart saved the life of a 58-year-old man from the USA.
For the first time in the world, a temporary blood pump made of titanium was implanted in a patient with heart failure. The metal organ was developed by BiVACOR, a company that develops special medical devices to replace the function of a human Heart to replace as long as possible until a donor heart is available.
Although the Total Artificial Heart (TAH) does not beat like a real heart, according to BiVACOR it is powerful enough to support a person during physical exertion.
The fist-sized dual-chamber device is virtually unbreakable and resists corrosion and mechanical wear. Inside is a magnetically levitating rotor that pumps blood into the lung and pumps it into the rest of the body. The device is powered by a small, external, wearable controller that exits through the stomach.
After ten years, several designs and dozens of studies, the artificial organ was implanted without complications at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center of the Texas Heart Institute.
The best treatment option for people with severe heart failure is a real donor heart, but these are not always available in time
The titanium heart functioned for eight days before a real donor heart was available. “I am incredibly proud to witness the successful first implantation of our TAH in a human,” says BiVACOR founder Daniel Timms. “This success would not have been possible without the courage of our first patient and his family, the dedication of our team and our expert staff at the Texas Heart Institute.”
Metal heart shortens risky waiting times
In November last year, BiVacor received approval to implant the TAH 2024 in up to five patients with end-stage heart failure. Transplants are expected in the near future.
“The global impact of a commercially viable, long-term mechanical replacement for the failing human heart will be enormous,” says the summary of the ongoing clinical trial. “The years-long wait for patients in urgent need of a heart transplant will be greatly reduced.” The titanium heart is ready for immediate use.