Never-before Published Photos: 30 Years Ago Michael Drummond Became the 1st Heart Failure Patient to be Successfully Bridged to a Donor Heart Transplant
Never-before Published Photos: 30 Years Ago Michael Drummond Became the 1st Heart Failure Patient to be Successfully Bridged to a Donor Heart Transplant

Dr. Jack Copeland operates on Michael Drummond. ©1985 Arizona Board of Regents/The University of Arizona Health Sciences. Photo credit: Jeb Zirato, UAHS BioCommunications

This picture of Michael Drummond’s surgery includes someone monitoring “Big Blue,” the nickname of the 400-pound driver that powered Drummond’s Total Artificial Heart. ©1985 Arizona Board of Regents/The University of Arizona Health Sciences. Photo credit: Jeb Zirato, UAHS BioCommunications

Dr. Jack Copeland visits bridge to transplant patient Michael Drummond at University Medical Center. © 1985 Arizona Board of Regents/The University of Arizona Health Sciences BioCommunications

Dr. Robert Jarvik shows heart transplant patient Michael Drummond the Total Artificial Heart that kept him alive while waiting a matching donor heart. The medical team included, from left, Richard Smith, Dr. Mark Levinson and Dr. Jack Copeland. © 1985 Arizona Board of Regents/The University of Arizona Health Sciences BioCommunications
NEWSROOM: SynCardia Systems, Inc.
CAMPAIGN: SynCardia Total Artificial Heart Patients in the News
CONTENT: Blog
A successful bridge to a donor heart transplant (BTT) 30 years ago revolutionized the treatment of end-stage biventricular (both sides) heart failure when Michael Drummond received a Total Artificial Heart implant—a direct predecessor of the modern SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart (TAH-t).
The initial five implants of the Total Artificial Heart were for permanent use. This was the first time a Total Artificial Heart, or any long-term mechanical assist device, was used to successfully bridge a patient to a donor heart transplant.
›› See never-before published photos during and after Michael Drummond’s historic heart transplant.