<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-01-21</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001024520</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WORLD HEART CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WHRT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001365618</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hove Anders D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O VENROCK</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>530 FIFTH AVENUE, 22ND FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10036</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-01-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>388350</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.15</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4055016</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Fund</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Warrant (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.90</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-01-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>388350</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.15</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-01-26</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-04-26</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>388350</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>388350</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Fund</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Warrant (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.90</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-01-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>388350</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.15</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-01-26</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-01-26</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>388350</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>388350</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Fund</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents an aggregate of (a) 350,408 shares of common stock purchased by Venrock Associates V, L.P., (b) 8,233 shares of common stock purchased by Venrock Entrepreneurs Fund V, L.P. and (c) 29,709 shares of common stock purchased by Venrock Partners V, L.P. pursuant to that certain Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of January 21, 2010, by and among the Issuer and the investors named therein (the &quot;Purchase Agreement&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents the per unit purchase price under the Purchase Agreement of a share of common stock, a 15-month warrant to purchase one share of common stock and a five-year warrant to purchase one share of common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents an aggregate of (a) 3,658,841 shares of common stock held by Venrock Associates V, L.P., (b) 85,966 shares of common stock held by Venrock Entrepreneurs Fund V, L.P. and (c) 310,209 shares of common stock held by Venrock Partners V, L.P.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Mr. Hove is a member of Venrock Management V, LLC, VEF Management V, LLC and Venrock Partners Management V, LLC, each of which is the general partner, respectively, of Venrock Associates V, L.P., Venrock Entrepreneurs Fund V, L.P. and Venrock Partners V, L.P.  Mr. Hove disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities held by Venrock Associates V, L.P., Venrock Entrepreneurs Fund V, L.P. and Venrock Partners V, L.P., except to the extent of his indirect pro-rata pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Represents an aggregate of 15-month warrants purchased pursuant to the Purchase Agreement by (a) Venrock Associates V, L.P., exercisable to purchase up to 350,408 shares of common stock, (b) Venrock Entrepreneurs Fund V, L.P., exercisable to purchase up to 8,233 shares of common stock, and (c) Venrock Partners V, L.P., exercisable to purchase up to 29,709 shares of common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Represents an aggregate of five-year warrants purchased pursuant to the Purchase Agreement by (a) Venrock Associates V, L.P., exercisable to purchase up to 350,408 shares of common stock, (b) Venrock Entrepreneurs Fund V, L.P., exercisable to purchase up to 8,233 shares of common stock, and (c) Venrock Partners V, L.P., exercisable to purchase up to 29,709 shares of common stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Anders D. Hove</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-01-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
