In a remarkable milestone for modern medicine, an Australian man in his 40s has become the first person in the world to survive more than 100 days with an artificial heart made of titanium, before receiving a donor transplant. This groundbreaking achievement has captured international attention and opened new possibilities in heart failure treatment and artificial organ technology.

The patient, who chose to remain anonymous, was suffering from severe end-stage heart failure—a life-threatening condition in which the heart can no longer pump blood effectively to sustain the body. In November 2024, at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney, Australia, surgeons led by cardiothoracic specialists performed a six-hour operation to implant the BiVACOR Total Artificial Heart (TAH), a device constructed mainly from titanium and featuring a magnetically levitated rotor pump that simulates natural blood flow.

Unlike most artificial hearts previously used in clinical settings, which were often limited to short hospital stays, this man’s case was unique: after spending several weeks in the intensive care unit, he was discharged from the hospital while still supported by the artificial heart, marking a world first for hospital discharge with a fully implantable mechanical heart. He continued to live at home with the device for more than 100 days while awaiting a matching donor heart.

In early March 2025, the man underwent a successful donor heart transplant and is now reported to be recovering well. This achievement not only highlights the safety and reliability of advanced artificial heart technology but also represents an important step toward reducing dependency on donor organs—something that could save millions of lives in the decades ahead.

Cardiologists and biomedical engineers around the world are hailing the success as a turning point in cardiac care. The BiVACOR system, which replaces both ventricles of the heart using a single moving part that minimizes mechanical wear, has previously been used in a few patients in the United States, but none had survived or left the hospital with the device prior to this Australian case.

Experts believe that this breakthrough could eventually help address the global shortage of donor hearts. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), millions suffer from heart failure worldwide, yet only a small fraction receive life-saving transplants, largely due to the limited availability of donor organs. Devices like BiVACOR could serve as a bridge to transplant—and potentially, one day, a long-term alternative for those who cannot receive donor hearts.

Despite the success, researchers caution that more study is needed before this technology becomes widely accessible. Clinical trials are ongoing, and regulatory approval processes in various countries will determine when and how such artificial hearts might be offered more broadly. Nevertheless, the Australian patient’s experience offers hope that the future of cardiac care might include durable, implantable mechanical hearts as standard treatment options for severe heart failure.

In summary, the historic survival of over 100 days with a titanium artificial heart marks a significant leap forward in medical science—advancing not only technology but also the understanding of how patients can adapt to and thrive with mechanical cardiac support.