New bionic heart saves lives without a pulse

An artist’s impression of the double-detonation supernova (right) that led to the ejection of US708 (left). In reality, the supernova would have faded away long before the star reached that position. Image: S. GEIER/Nasa

The BiVACOR uses a small spinning titanium disc to pump blood through the body.

SCIENTISTS at Queensland University of Technology have developed a new bionic heart that lasts 10 years longer than current artificial ones. Named BiVACOR, the device contains a small titanium disc that spins at 2,000 revolutions per second, allowing it to pump blood around the body without beating.