The Wizard of Oz dreamed of giving a heart to his Tin Man. Today, reality has surpassed fantasy: a real man lived for days with an artificial titanium heart. This world first, carried out in the United States, can become a concrete hope for millions of patients suffering from terminal heart failure, transforming the field of heart transplants. But how does this mechanical heart work and what challenges will it still have to overcome?
A heart of titanium
Il BiVACOR Total Artificial Heart (TAH) represents a quantum leap in the field of cardiology. Unlike previous artificial hearts, this device does not imitate the beating of a human heart. Instead, it uses a single magnetic levitation rotor that pumps blood both to the lungs and to the rest of the body.
The TAH is the size of a fist, and all titanium: virtually indestructible. Its unique design eliminates friction, reducing wear over time. A portable external controller, however, powers the device through a cable that exits the patient's abdomen.
The first human implant
After ten years of development and numerous animal studies, the TAH BiVACOR was successfully implanted in a 58-year-old man at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center. The device worked perfectly for eight days, until a donor heart became available.
With fewer than 6.000 heart transplants performed annually worldwide, the TAH BiVACOR could offer a vital solution for patients awaiting transplants, extending and improving their quality of life.
Artificial heart in titanium, the roadmap
Despite the initial success, questions remain about the long-term durability of the device in the human body. Laboratory tests are promising, with the device running continuously for four years.
FDA has approved implanting the BiVACOR TAH in up to five patients with end-stage heart failure this year. This clinical trial will be crucial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the device on a larger sample of patients.
Comparison with other technologies
Currently, only one other artificial heart has received commercial approval from the FDA: the SynCardia Total Artificial Heart. However, its design with flexible membranes and valves makes it less durable than the TAH BiVACOR.
The future of the artificial heart (and heart transplants)
The founder of BiVACOR, Daniel Timms, sees this success as a step toward a future where patients no longer have to wait years for a transplant. The goal is to make these devices always available, as a broad (and potentially long) “bridge solution”, rapidly improving patients' quality of life.
The BiVACOR titanium artificial heart, in summary, is a concrete hope for millions of patients waiting transplant. He's just started beating (despite technically having no heartbeat) and we can't wait to see the next chapters.
