Patient in Australia becomes first person to receive an artificial heart
SYDNEY (CBS, KYMA/KECY) - An Australian man is the first in the world to leave the hospital with an artificial heart.
The 40-year-old patient received the titanium implant last November, and it kept him alive for 100 days until his donor heart became available earlier this month.
The "total artificial heart" pumps blood to the body and lungs, replacing both ventricles of a failing heart.
BiVacor, the American-Australian company behind the device, says the mane, who doesn't want to be identified, had severe heart failure, but is now recovering well.
"Ultimately that's what our goal is, to return these patients back to a normal quality of life, and he did return to a normal quality of life outside the hospital," said Dr. Daniel Timms, inventor of the device and founder of BiVacor.
Doctors say it's a promising sign the device could be a long-term solution for people with heart failure, but it's still being tested and has not been approved for general use yet.
