A revolutionary artificial heart with magnetic levitation technology is implanted in a human for the first time. The BiVACOR device promises to be a breakthrough in the treatment of end-stage heart failure.
Heart on magnets
Breakthrough in cardiology
In medicine A significant event occurred: for the first time, a patient was implanted with an artificial heart operating on the basis of magnetic levitation technology (maglev). This achievement opens new horizons in the field of cardiology and transplantology.
Unique design
According to the Texas Heart Institute, the innovative organ developed by BiVACOR is a titanium biventricular pump with a rotating element. The key feature of the device is the presence of a single moving part: a magnetically suspended rotor, which ensures blood circulation and replaces the functions of both ventricles.
Advantages of magnetic technology
BiVACOR, which has been developing this device since 2013, emphasizes the main advantage of using magnetic levitation - the absence of friction, which usually leads to wear on mechanisms. It is the first artificial heart of its kind to use Maglev technology. Like other mechanical analogues, the titanium organ is intended to support the patient’s vital activity while awaiting a donor heart.
Impressive stats
The device, comparable in size to a fist, is capable of pumping up to 12 liters of blood per minute. According to BiVACOR, this is enough to ensure normal physical activity for an adult. The company notes that unlike other artificial hearts that use flexible polymer diaphragms to pump blood, their invention has just one moving part, held in place by a magnetic field, and contains no valves. This technical solution potentially increases the service life of the device.
Clinical Trial Outlook
Daniel Timms, founder and CTO of BiVACOR, expressed his gratitude to the first patient and his family for their courage, and also noted the importance of cooperation with the Texas Heart Institute. He stressed that the use of advanced maglev technology is bringing closer the moment when people with end-stage heart failure will receive much-needed support while waiting for a transplant. The next stage of research involves the implantation of titanium hearts in two more patients, followed by careful observation until the final transplantation.
Global Problem and Potential Solution
Heart failure affects at least 26 million people worldwide. According to the American Heart Association, the need for heart transplants has doubled over the past three decades, and today there are more than 3,400 people awaiting a donor organ in the United States alone. Successful clinical trials of the BiVACOR titanium heart could be a lifesaver for many patients in need of transplantation.
Glossary
- BiVACOR is a company developing an innovative artificial heart with magnetic levitation technology.
- Maglev is the magnetic levitation technology used in the new artificial heart.
- Texas Heart Institute is a medical institution involved in implantation and research of the new device.
- Daniel Timms is the founder and CTO of BiVACOR.
- The American Heart Association is an organization that provides statistics on heart disease and transplantation.
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Discussion of the topic – Revolutionary artificial heart with maglev technology: a breakthrough in cardiology
For the first time, an artificial heart with magnetic levitation technology, developed by BiVACOR, was implanted. The device has a minimum number of moving parts, which ensures its durability and reliability.
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