Surgeons implant first magnetically levitated titanium heart in human patient

Surgeons have successfully implanted a titanium artificial heart, powered by the same “magnetic levitation” technology used to make high-speed trains, into a patient's chest. Its developers hope that the device will be used to save the lives of countless patients on transplant waiting lists and may one day serve as a permanent replacement for failing hearts.

Magnetic levitation, or “maglev,” technology uses the natural repulsive force of opposing magnetic poles to suspend objects in the air, essentially suspending them in place. The most common real-world use of this technology is in the development of high-speed bullet trains that glide contactlessly along magnetic rails at speeds of over 300 km/h.

Now, scientists at California-based company BiVACOR are partnering with the Texas Heart Institute to implant the first artificial heart powered by magnetic levitation technology into the chest of a patient awaiting a life-saving organ transplant.

The pumping motion of BiVACOR's Total Artificial Heart (TAH) is controlled by a magnetically levitated driven rotor that spins and floats contactlessly within the compact implant's titanium housing, circulating blood throughout the body. Once in place, the valve-less heart could theoretically support an exercising adult male, and a smart external controller can be used to speed up or slow down the pump, and the frictionless design is expected to eliminate the risk of mechanical wear and eventual failure.

On July 9, surgeons at the Texas Medical Center successfully implanted a magnetically levitated heart into a human patient for the first time as part of an FDA-approved trial to test the safety and feasibility of the artificial organ. At this time, BiVACOR's heart is not being developed as a permanent replacement, but rather as a bridge implant to keep patients alive until a donor heart is available.

Fortunately, the BiVACOR TAH was able to keep the patient alive for eight full days, after which surgeons were able to remove the artificial organ and replace it with the donor heart on July 17. According to a recent update, the patient is currently recovering well. Texas Heart Institute.

By the time BiVACOR's first human trials are complete, four more patients are expected to be fitted with an artificial heart. Looking to the future, the company hopes that the magnetically levitated organ will eventually be used to save the lives of countless patients and even one day be used as a long-term replacement for a human heart.

“This device has the potential to be a life-saving bridge until a heart transplant, and future studies may prove its potential as a long-term pump that can completely replace a patient's heart,” said Dr. Alexis Shafi, chief of cardiac transplant surgery at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center. “We are hopeful that the BiVACOR TAH will ultimately save many lives and improve the quality of life for patients who have no other treatment options.”

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is estimated to affect approximately 6.7 million Americans over the age of 20. In contrast, only 6,000 donor hearts are donated worldwide each year. The National Institutes of Health estimates that 100,000 patients could immediately benefit from access to an artificial heart, which could help bridge the gap between heart failure and life-saving surgery and save countless lives.

Image courtesy of BiVACOR Inc.

Anthony is a freelance contributor covering science and video game news for IGN. He's been writing about the latest developments in multiple scientific fields for over 8 years and has zero time for your shenanigans. Follow him on Twitter @BeardConGamer.