Can a Titanium Artificial Heart Beat the Wait for Donor Organs?

When someone’s heart stops working right, it can be very dangerous. Doctors have created special machines called artificial hearts to help in these cases.

Could a titanium artificial heart be the answer for people waiting for a donor heart?

An Australian man has made medical history by becoming the first person in the world to leave the hospital with a long-term artificial heart. Doctors implanted the BiVACOR Total Artificial Heart during a 6-hour operation in Sydney last November. The patient, who had severe heart failure, received the device as a temporary solution until a real donor heart became available. It was designed to be durable and possibly serve as a permanent replacement in the future.

The BiVACOR heart is a mechanical pump made from titanium. Unlike other artificial hearts that wear out over time, this one uses magnets to suspend its rotor, so the internal parts don’t rub together. That means no wear and tear. Instead of pumping, it “whooshes” the blood around the body using magnetic force. It’s small, light — about 650 grams — and powerful enough to support someone with severe heart failure. The man who received it had been too weak to even walk to the bathroom before surgery. Now, after more than 100 days with the device, he’s recovering from a successful heart transplant.

This heart was invented by Daniel Timms, a Queensland engineer whose father died of heart failure. That loss motivated him to spend years working on the device. Cardiothoracic surgeon Paul Jansz, who led the operation, called it a “Holy Grail” because the device can’t fail or be rejected by the body. He also noted how fitting it was that this groundbreaking procedure happened at the same hospital where Australia’s first heart transplant took place in 1968.

Heart failure kills about 5,000 Australians each year, and with a shortage of donor hearts — transplants were down 19% last year — devices like BiVACOR could offer a real solution. This technology may soon become the go-to option for patients who can't wait for a donor.

How the Artificial Heart Works

A titanium artificial heart acts as a mechanical pump that replaces both lower chambers of your heart, called ventricles, when they stop working properly. This device takes over pumping blood through your body by connecting to the heart’s upper chambers and major arteries. People receive an artificial heart mainly when they have severe heart problems, such as heart failure, a massive heart attack, or congenital heart defects.

Sometimes, a device called an LVAD (left ventricular assist device) won’t work due to complex heart issues, but the artificial heart can help because it replaces both ventricles and includes valves. The artificial heart helps patients survive and stay strong enough while they wait for a donor heart transplant, acting as a “bridge to transplant.”

Despite many advances over the last century, artificial hearts are not perfect. Most patients experience infections, and the devices are temporary solutions rather than permanent replacements. However, improvements continue, and newer models may eventually support life fully without a human heart. Right now, these man-made hearts save lives by keeping patients alive until a donor heart becomes available.

Heart disease remains the top cause of death in the U.S., killing over 600,000 people annually. Because of this, total artificial hearts have become a critical last option for people with serious heart conditions affecting both sides of their heart. These devices represent important progress, giving hope to those who might not survive long enough to receive a transplant.

End Note

Titanium artificial hearts bring real hope to people with serious heart problems, especially when donor hearts are hard to find. They take over the heart’s job of pumping blood, helping patients stay alive and get stronger while they wait. Though today’s models have some challenges, like infection risks and needing to be plugged in, they keep improving all the time.

With these advances, artificial hearts could soon become a lifesaving option for many who don’t have time to wait for a transplant.