Adoptive father of 2-year-old becomes first patient to get artificial heart at Duke

Surgeons implanted a new-generation artificial heart into a patient.

Duke is one of three transplant centers in the US selected to take part in this FDA study.

Matthew Moore, 39, was the first patient to enroll -- and go through with the procedure.

His surgery took place Monday, lasting about eight hours. Surgeons implanted an artificial heart, created by CARMAT, a company specializing in heart implant technologies.

In June, he was transferred to Duke with advanced disease of both of his heart chambers. He deteriorated rapidly, and a traditional heart transplant became too dangerous.

"The device is meant to help patients that have end-stage or severe failure of both the right side of the heart -- or the right ventricle -- and the left ventricle," said Milano.

The device is not supposed to be permanent: It serves as a stopgap for the most critical patients awaiting a heart transplant.

The patient and his wife, Rachel, who's also a nurse, are foster parents who just recently adopted a 2-year-old foster son. She says their faith in God has kept them going.

"He's still here because he has something left to do," she says. "There's no other explanation than our faith in God."

Her husband is recovering in the hospital. If he keeps doing well, he'll sent home to await a real heart.