Wikipedia says 1982 was the first. From this article: """Heart-assistance devices have been used for decades as a temporary solution for patients awaiting tran

Wikipedia says 1982 was the first. From this article: """Heart-assistance devices have been used for decades as a temporary solution for patients awaiting transplants, but Carmat's bioprosthetic product is designed to replace the real heart over the long run, mimicking nature's work using biological materials and sensors.""" edit: the headline is a little confusing, but it's currently phrased "Carmat's first," a company formed specifically to advance the state of the art in synthetic organs. Wikipedia cites this[0] account of the first transplant: """During the 112 days that he survived, he underwent four additional operations, had several episodes of bleeding, and experienced prolonged periods of confusion. He even asked to die on several occasions.""" [0]http://celebrities.healthdiaries.com/the-25th-anniversary-of-barney-clarks-artificial-heart.html http://celebrities.healthdiaries.com/the-25th-anniversary-of...