Israeli First: Man Receives Artificial Heart at Sheba in Major Medical Breakthrough

A groundbreaking medical procedure has taken place at Sheba Medical Center, where a 50-year-old man suffering from end-stage heart failure was given a second chance at life, thanks to the successful implantation of a revolutionary artificial heart. Facing certain death due to the complete failure of both heart ventricles, the patient became the first in Israel to receive the Aeson artificial heart, a cutting-edge device developed by the French company CARMAT. Now, instead of awaiting an uncertain transplant, he is recovering with a fully mechanical organ that mimics the functions of a natural human heart.

The complex procedure was led by Sheba Medical Center’s Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Prof. Leonid Sternik, in collaboration with Prof. Dan Aravot Morgan. This artificial heart is being hailed as the most advanced of its kind in the world. Unlike older models that operated with fixed parameters and disruptive noise, the Aeson uses sophisticated sensors to adapt its blood flow in real time, adjusting output based on the patient’s activity level, working harder during movement and slowing down during rest. Made of high-grade medical polymers like PEEK, the device even replicates the natural pulsing rhythm of a biological heart.

Heart failure affects an estimated 180,000 people in Israel and tens of millions globally. For approximately 10% of these patients, those with biventricular failure, a full heart transplant is traditionally the only solution. However, due to the chronic shortage of donor organs, many patients do not survive long enough to receive a transplant. The Aeson offers a life-saving alternative for these critical cases.

This device has already been implanted in over 100 patients worldwide, moving beyond its trial phase and proving itself as a viable clinical solution. Until now, treatment for two-sided heart failure relied on implanting two separate left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), a risky and less effective method. The Aeson consolidates that support into one unified system, giving hope to thousands previously without options.

The team at Sheba believes that this breakthrough could eventually replace traditional transplantation altogether. As technology continues to evolve, the artificial heart may become a standard, ready-to-implant solution eliminating waitlists and ensuring that patients in critical condition get the help they need immediately.

The procedure is also symbolic of Israel’s role at the forefront of medical innovation. The successful implantation of the Aeson at Sheba doesn’t just mark a national first, it signals the arrival of a new era in cardiac care, where even the most advanced medical solutions are within reach today.