A 40-year-old man in Australia suffering from heart failure survived for 100 days with a titanium artificial heart until a compatible transplant was found a few weeks ago. The man, who is “recovering well,” became the first person to live outside of a hospital with the device, and the 100 days is the longest anyone has survived with this technology [1], [2].
The device, still in the experimental phase, is designed to fully replace the human heart for as long as necessary and to fit any individual. Experts hope it will help save more people on heart transplant waiting lists. In the U.S. in 2024, approximately 3,500 people underwent heart transplants, while around 4,400 were added to the donor waiting list, according to the Department of Health.
Every year, more than 23 million people worldwide develop heart failure, but only 6,000 receive a suitable transplant.
The first trial of the titanium artificial heart took place in the U.S. in July 2024, when a 58-year-old man with end-stage heart failure survived for eight days with the device until a suitable transplant was found. Since then, four more trials have been conducted in the U.S., making the 40-year-old man in Australia the first recipient of the metal heart in his country and the sixth globally.
Every year, over 23 million people worldwide develop heart failure, but only 6,000 receive a suitable transplant. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally, responsible for about 18 million deaths annually, according to the WHO.
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