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. 2025 Sep 5;14(17):6290.
doi: 10.3390/jcm14176290.

The Total Artificial Heart: A Historical Perspective

Daniele Masarone  1 , Rita Gravino  1 , Luigi Falco  1 , Dario Catapano  1 , Fabio Valente  1 , Cristiano Amarelli  2 , Claudio Marra  2 , Michelle Kittleson  3 , Pierino Di Silverio  4 , Emilio di Lorenzo  1
Affiliations

The Total Artificial Heart: A Historical Perspective

Daniele Masarone et al. J Clin Med. .

Abstract

Scientists, physicians, and engineers have long endeavored to develop a device capable of replacing the function of the heart. The objective is to create a machine or pump for patients suffering from advanced biventricular heart failure, where survival until transplantation is feasible. These total artificial hearts are designed to sustain the patient until a donor heart becomes available. This review aims to present an overview and historical context of the development of the total artificial heart, analyze the currently utilized devices, and briefly discuss future technological innovations in total artificial heart systems.

Keywords: advanced heart failure; history of medicine; total artificial heart.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The components of the syringe that could replace the heart’s function and its use, as depicted in the book by César Julien Jean Legallois in 1812 (see ref. [4]).
Figure 2
Figure 2
The Winchell TAH.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The Liotta–Cooley TAH.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The Akutsu III TAH.
Figure 5
Figure 5
The Syncardia temporary TAH.
Figure 6
Figure 6
The CARMAT Aeson TAH.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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