On May 3, 2010, Charles Okeke became the first U.S. patient to be discharged from the hospital without a human heart when he walked out of an Arizona heart center. Mr. Okeke received the SynCardia Total Artificial Heart as a bridge to transplant on Sept. 8, 2008, when his body was rejecting an earlier heart transplant. He spent eight months at home with his family until he received a donor heart-kidney transplant Jan. 15, 2011.

Since 2010, the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart powered by the Freedom® portable driver has supported more than 220 clinically stable patients. Over 150 patients have been discharged to recover and exercise at home and in their communities as they waited for donor hearts. Discharge allows Freedom® portable driver patients to get in better shape for their heart transplants while getting back to their lives. Two patients who are waiting for their matching donor hearts are getting close to four years of support on the SynCardia Total Artificial Heart powered by the Freedom® portable driver.

“Patients get to sleep in their own beds, socialize with their friends, go out to dinner, attend religious services and live a pretty normal life,” says Garippa. “Some even go on vacation, four-wheeling and do practically anything they would do with a human heart. “Phoenix, Arizona resident Charles Okeke received the SynCardia Total Artificial Heart as a bridge to transplant on September 8, 2008, when his body was rejecting an earlier heart transplant.

For 600 days, Okeke was confined to the hospital tethered to a 418-pound hospital driver that powered his SynCardia Heart. Like a heart transplant, the SynCardia Total Artificial Heart is the only approved device that eliminates the source of end-stage biventricular (both sides) heart failure.

In March 2010, the FDA approved a clinical study into the effectiveness of the Freedom® portable driver, a 13.5-pound unit that powers the SynCardia Total Artificial Heart and that gives clinically stable patients nearly unlimited mobility. Okeke now had the opportunity to receive the Freedom® portable driver and be discharged home. But he had concerns. He spent eight months at home with his family until he received a donor heart-kidney transplant January 15, 2011.