The Total Artificial Heart, made of titanium – credit BiVACOR
Today’s good news comes from the Goodnews Network
Titanium Maglev Heart Implanted Successfully in a Patient for First Time May Help Others Waiting for a Transplant
In a highly-anticipated world-first, the Texas Heart Institute has successfully implanted an artificial titanium heart that uses the same technology as bullet trains to pump blood mechanically throughout the body.
Called the Total Artificial Heart (TAH), the feat is seen as a major step in keeping people alive for longer and longer periods while they wait for heart transplants.
Texas Heart partnered with the medical tech company BiVACOR to create the TAH. It’s a titanium-constructed biventricular rotary blood pump with a single moving part that utilizes a magnetically levitated rotor that pumps the blood and replaces both ventricles of a failing heart.
The benefit of using magnetic levitation is that none of the moving parts ever scrape or slide against each other, reducing friction and dramatically increasing the longevity of the device. But what’s really cool is the TAH can pump blood at a rate of 12 liters per minute, enough to allow an adult male to engage in exercise.
The first-in-human clinical study, overseen closely by the FDA, aims to evaluate the safety and performance of the BiVACOR TAH as a bridge-to-transplant solution for patients with severe bi or univentricular heart failure. Following this first implantation completed at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center in the Texas Medical Center, four additional patients are to be enrolled in the study.
“The Texas Heart Institute is enthused about the groundbreaking first implantation of BiVACOR’s TAH. With heart failure remaining a leading cause of mortality globally, the BiVACOR TAH offers a beacon of hope for countless patients awaiting a heart transplant,” said Dr. Joseph Rogers, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Texas Heart Institute and National Principal Investigator on the research.
“We are proud to be at the forefront of this medical breakthrough, working alongside the dedicated teams at BiVACOR, Baylor College of Medicine, and Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center to transform the future of heart failure therapy for this vulnerable population.”
Heart failure is a global epidemic affecting at least 26 million people worldwide, 6.2 million adults in the US, and is increasing in prevalence. Heart transplantations are reserved for those with severe heart failure and are limited to fewer than 6,000 procedures per year globally. Consequently, the US National Institutes of Health estimated that up to 100,000 patients could immediately benefit from mechanical alternatives.
The successful implantation of BiVACOR’s TAH highlights the potential of innovative technologies to address critical challenges in cardiac care, such as long transplantation waitlists.
“This achievement would not have been possible without the courage of our first patient and their family, the dedication of our team, and our expert collaborators at The Texas Heart Institute,” said Daniel Timms, founder and CTO of BiVACOR.
WATCH the story below…
The Good News in this report is that more and more people can be saved. Today’s JohnKu talks about dedication. I hope you have a fabulous weekend.
Unorthodox by John W. Howell © 2024
Sometimes answers found,
By thinking outside the box . . .
Show dedication.
Fiction Favorites 
This is amazing! Technology at its best.
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It seems that way. Thanks, Darlene
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Very cool. Though I wonder how much it weighs. Isn’t titanium heavy?
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I believe titanium is very light, but strong.
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Yes, light in comparison to steel.
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Titanium weighs about 65% less than steel.
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Guess that’s a plus. Just wondering about the weight compared to an organic heart.
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Good question.
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I remember when the University of Utah did something similar back in the 1980s. The local news covered it so extensively that I’ll never forget the patient, Dr. Barney Clark. Of course they didn’t have some of this technology back then.
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I remember Dr. Clark too.
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This is scary-amazing, wonderful, exciting and then some!
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Supercalifragilisticexpedeladocious.
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Hahaha! That too!
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😁
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Amazing what science does, especially in a free market society.
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I agree, Steve. No telling how long that free market society will last.
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🥴
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😊
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It looks so large, but if it works – Outstanding!!!
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I thought the same thing, GP. Thanks.
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Amazing! Thank you for sharing, John.
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A pleasure , Gwen. It is amazing for sure.
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Wonderful news. Thanks for sharing, John!
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I agree, Teri. 😁
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This is amazing, John! To have an Australian plumber’s son come up with this advancement in TAHs is fantastic! Using magnetic levitation is genius. The human body’s demand for 52 million heartbeats a year wore out the existing TAHs, and magnetic levitation avoids that. Now an artificial heart can keep working to keep a patient alive until a donated heart can be transplanted.
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Pure genius for sure. Thanks, Tim
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Wonderful technological development that should save lives. I can’t imagine having this rather massive metal thing in attached to me, but if it allows the owner to exercise and enjoy life, I’m for it 1000%.
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I’m not clear if it is inside or along side. You are right it is a great step forward.
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I can only imagine what it was like to have been that first patient… hopefully that person’s experience will encourage others to give it a shot! This is remarkable.
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I agree. A brave person for sure.
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Wouldn’t you love to get into the mind of the people that think these things up? I cannot even imagine. This is wonderful.
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I’m with you, Lois. I can’t even imagine. 😁
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I’m glad you pointed out that it’s actually light, John, because it looks massively heavy. Sure hope it proves to be successful and will help a lot of people. Your JohnKu is nicely done, too!
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I do too, Debbie. Thanks.
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This is amazing.. I never quit get how these things are born and the body accepts them but aweome❣️👏
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Very awesome. Thanks, Cindy.
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Wow that is amazing. My first question though is about the risk of the body rejecting the artificial heart (foreign body response). I have to admit I don’t know much about it.
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I was wondering about rejection, too.
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I don’t know if it goes in the body or beside the body.
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I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around it.
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I’m not sure if it goes inside the body or is attached somehow.
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Yes that is a good question.
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I’m going to try and find the answer.
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se the headline says implanted so I guess it goes inside.
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It’s very encouraging that such groundbreaking medical research is being conducted.
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I am with you, Liz.
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This is an amazing step forward John and thank you for sharing. hugs
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I agree, Sally. Thanks.
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Titanium is pretty light as far as metals go. It’s about 1.6 times heavier than aluminum. This seems like an amazing achievement.
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It does for sure. Thanks, Pete.
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Wow, just wow! How cool will that be for people in need. We hope approval goes well for all concerned.
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Me too. It will be a gig step forward.
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This is incredible John. To think of how far we have come in a relatively short amount of time!
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I agree. We have come very far.
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Wow. That’s incredible!
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Yes it is.
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Wow!
We are becoming the Bionic Man.
Yes! Thinking outside the box is critical, as per your fab JohnKu.
It looks so big, yet when seen in a hand, it’s maybe 1 1/2 fists?
Good one, John!
❤️🩹𝔁 ❤️🩹𝔁 ❤️🩹𝔁 ❤️🩹𝔁
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Thank you Resa. I like your emojis so I’m taking them. ❤️🩹𝔁 ❤️🩹𝔁 ❤️🩹𝔁 ❤️🩹𝔁
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Always a win/win!
🏆🏆
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Yup
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Wow! This is incredible.
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