The patient, a man in his 40s who chose to remain anonymous, underwent surgery at St. Vincent’s Hospital Sydney last November to receive the implant.
In February, he made history as the first person in the world to be discharged from the hospital with the device, which sustained him until a donor heart became available earlier this month.
According to a joint statement released on March 12 by St. Vincent’s Hospital, Monash University, and BiVACOR—the US-Australian company behind the technology—the man, who suffered from severe heart failure, is “recovering well.”
The success of the artificial heart is being hailed as a major breakthrough, demonstrating its potential as a long-term solution for heart failure patients. However, the device remains in the trial phase and has not yet received approval for widespread use.
BiVACOR’s founder, Australian bioengineer Daniel Timms, developed the device after losing his father to heart disease. Reflecting on the achievement, Timms described it as “exhilarating to see decades of work come to fruition.”
“The entire BiVACOR team is deeply grateful to the patient and his family for placing their trust in our Total Artificial Heart,” he said. “Their bravery will pave the way for countless more patients to receive this lifesaving technology.”
The BiVACOR Total Artificial Heart (TAH) is made of titanium and features a single moving part—a levitated rotor held in place by magnets. Unlike traditional artificial heart devices, it has no valves or mechanical bearings that could wear out over time. The device functions by pumping blood to both the body and lungs, replacing the failing ventricles of a diseased heart.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, claiming around 18 million lives annually, according to the World Health Organization. The BiVACOR heart offers hope to thousands of patients waiting for donor hearts. In the U.S. alone, approximately 3,500 heart transplants were performed in 2024, while 4,400 new patients joined the waiting list.
Professor Chris Hayward, of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, praised the breakthrough, stating that the artificial heart represents “a whole new ball game for heart transplants.”
“Within the next decade, we will see the artificial heart becoming a viable alternative for patients who are unable to wait for a donor heart or for those who simply don’t have a match available,” said Hayward, who is overseeing the Australian patient’s recovery and played a key role in preparing the device for clinical trials.
The device has already been tested in the U.S. under the Food and Drug Administration’s Early Feasibility Study, with five patients successfully implanted so far.
