An Australian man lived for 100 days with an artificial titanium heart while he awaited a donor transplant, the longest period to date of someone with the technology.

The patient, a man in his 40s who declined to be identified, received the implant during surgery at St. Vincent’s Hospital Sydney last November.

In February, he became the first person worldwide to leave hospital with the device, which kept him alive until a heart donor became available earlier this month.

  • @[email protected]
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    179 hours ago

    kept him alive until a heart donor became available earlier this month.

    Bit important info to bury. Dude lived.

  • @jpreston2005
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    38 hours ago

    Fukin’ awesome. Science! I can’t help but wonder what his pulse felt/sounded like 😶‍ Would it be just a continuous “woosh” or would it even have a “beat?” His EKG must’ve looked WILD. And knowing it can work for that long… well, who’s to say it doesn’t become the preferred option in the future!

  • Nougat
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    713 hours ago

    I looked at the thumbnail and immediately imagined neatly trimmed blood hoses attached with hose clamps.

    • @[email protected]
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      713 hours ago

      Genuine natural free-range titanium is really expensive. Makes sense to look for more affordable alternatives like fake titanium or artificial titanium.

  • Bob Robertson IX
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    311 hours ago

    That thing looks painfully heavy! I can’t imagine how that would feel in your chest… and I’m curious to know how it is secured in the chest cavity.

    • @mholiv
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      510 hours ago

      You might be surprised. Titanium is very light. Similar to magnesium or aluminum. I bet such a thing weighs a similar amount to a traditional heart with blood.