Artificial heart by Brisbane inventor could ‘save millions of lives’

A BRISBANE inventor will be given more than $2 million to develop an artificial heart that could save the lives of millions of people worldwide.

A BRISBANE inventor will be given more than $2 million to develop an artificial heart that could save the lives of millions of people worldwide.

The grant for BiVACOR, founded by Dr Daniel Timms, will go towards his groundbreaking invention of a total heart replacement that can last for years and is small enough to be implanted inside a child.

The Total Artificial Heart (TAH) is designed to take over the complete function of a heart and will be given to patients with end-stage heart failure, who need support while on a transplant waiting list or who do not qualify for a transplant.

BiVacor’s grant will go towards the invention of a total heart replacement.

The world-first device could last in humans for up to 10 years, providing a real alternative to heart transplants.

Dr Timms started working on the project in 2001 while studying at Queensland University of Technology.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt will be in Brisbane today to announce the $2.6 million investment plus $1.9 million for research to tackle the threat of antimicrobial resistance in aged-care facilities.

Mr Hunt said the TAH was a “home-grown invention” that could transform how heart failure was treated worldwide.

“It is an incredible device that has the potential to save millions of lives around the world,” he said.

“We are proud to back Aussie inventors like Daniel Timms.”

Dr Timms said his company would use the money to continue to work with teams in Australia and the US to develop the life-saving device.

The money for research to tackle infections in aged-care homes includes $1.2 million from the Commonwealth and $700,000 from The University of Queensland.

Antimicrobial resistance occurs when microorganisms that cause infections resist the effects of the medicines used to treat them, such as antibiotics.