An Australian man has made history by becoming the first person to be discharged from hospital with a fully artificial heart implant. Researchers and doctors at Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital have shared the news after the man successfully lived with the heart implant for more than 100 days before receiving a real heart transplant. So, what should you know about it?
For your information, the artificial heart, known as the BiVACOR Total Artificial Heart (TAH), is also made of titanium and uses magnetic levitation technology to pump blood throughout the body. It is said to serve as a temporary solution before the man receives a real heart transplant in early March.
Technically, the heart pumps blood throughout the body using a motor with a special mechanism to prevent damage between parts. This means that the internal parts will not rub against each other, thus reducing damage over time.
The artificial heart is also powered by an external rechargeable battery, which is connected to the heart via wires in the patient's chest. It is said to last four hours and will alert the patient when it needs to be recharged.
The man, who is also in his 40s, is said to have suffered from severe heart failure and volunteered to be a recipient of an artificial heart in Australia. He then received the BiVacor implant through a six-hour surgery led by BiVACOR Chief Technical Officer, Dr Paul Jansz. This achievement sets a new record for the longest period a human has lived with an artificial heart while waiting to receive a donor heart.
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