Previously, all patients with this device had to be under constant medical supervision and received a new heart within a month, Nature reports.
The developers hope that this implant will become a full-fledged alternative to transplantation in cases when it is impossible to find a donor organ.
Unlike pacemakers and implants that support only certain functions of the heart, the BiVACOR device completely replaces the human heart.
How the artificial heart works
The titanium heart pumps blood using a rotor that is held in the air by a magnetic field, and has just one moving part – this minimises wear and tear. The implant runs on an external battery during the day and can be plugged in at night.
A man awaiting a heart transplant was fitted with a titanium implant in November 2024. He was already discharged from hospital in February and lived at home without constant medical supervision until the operation in March.
Despite the successful experience, doctors note: the device is still undergoing testing, and its endurance for long-term use is still unknown.
The FDA has authorised further testing on another 15 volunteers on the transplant waiting list.