Titanium Heart Successfully Implanted Into Human Patient In World-First

Image via BiVACOR

You’ve heard about having a heart of gold, but the future might be titanium. A 58-year-old man in the United States has made medical history by becoming the first person to receive a temporary titanium blood-pumper as a replacement for his failing heart. Developed by BiVACOR, a clinical-stage medical tech provider, this innovative device aims to sustain patients during the critical wait for heart transplants.

Image via BiVACOR

The metal organ, resembling something out of science fiction, doesn’t beat like a real heart. Instead, it functions as a powerful, virtually indestructible mechanical pump. Instead, it serves as a powerful, virtually unbreakable mechanical pump. Its double-chambered structure, about the size of a fist, houses a single, magnetically levitating rotor. This rotor propels blood to the lungs and throughout the body, all without making contact with any other surface—eliminating the risk of friction-induced damage over time.

Image via BiVACOR

Constructed from titanium for its high biocompatibility, corrosion resistance, and strength, the BiVACOR artificial heart is compact and suitable for most adults. It provides high blood flow rates, enough to support an adult male during exercise, and operates through a smart controller that adjusts to the patient’s activity and cardiac output needs.

The journey to this milestone involved 10 years of research, multiple designs, and numerous animal studies. At long last, the BiVACOR artificial heart found its way into a living patient with end-stage heart failure. Implanted at Baylor St Luke’s Medical Center at the Texas Heart Institute, the titanium heart functioned remarkably well for eight days before a real donor heart became available.

Image via BiVACOR

With fewer than 6,000 heart transplants occurring globally each year, total artificial hearts (TAHs) like the BiVACOR may play a crucial role in extending and improving the quality of life for transplant-eligible patients. Unlike previous designs, which had limitations due to their large flexing membranes and valves, the BiVACOR heart represents a “paradigm shift”—a durable, long-lasting solution that defies convention.

[via ScienceAlert, New Atlas, Yanko Design, images via BiVACOR]