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The plastic heart, an artificial heart created by the French company CARMAT, is already authorized in some European countries. It replaces the organ of patients with terminal heart failure, automatically adjusts the blood flow, and acts as a bridge until transplantation, reducing the immediate dependence on a donor.
A plastic heart capable of replacing the human organ and adapting to the physical effort of each patient is being pointed out by scientists as a potential revolution in the treatment of heart diseases. The device, developed by the French company CARMAT and named Aeson, has already received authorization for use in some European countries.
The device is aimed at those facing terminal heart failure, a condition in which the heart loses the ability to pump blood properly. More than a distant promise, it is already being used as a bridge to transplantation, keeping the patient stable until a compatible donor appears, at a time when waiting for an organ can take months or years.
How the plastic heart by CARMAT works
The plastic heart replicates the functioning of the natural organ and replaces the ventricles of the native heart. Named Aeson, the equipment from CARMAT comes with smart sensors that automatically adjust the blood flow in the body, according to the physical activity and biological needs of each patient. In practice, it speeds up or slows down the pumping according to the effort of the person carrying it.
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This artificial heart is indicated for severe cases of terminal biventricular heart failure in patients who do not benefit from maximum medication treatments or other heart assistance devices.
According to the manufacturer, it is currently the only fully implantable artificial heart with CE marking, the seal that authorizes commercialization in Europe.
A bridge to transplantation, not a definitive substitute yet
Here comes an important point of precision. Today, the plastic heart functions as a bridge to transplantation, and not as a permanent replacement of the organ.
It stabilizes patients in critical condition and reduces the immediate dependence on a donor, but does not eliminate the need for traditional surgery, which remains the definitive procedure. Experts emphasize that the device is, for now, a temporary support.
The numbers show that this is already happening in real life. By the end of October 2024, 30 patients had been successfully transplanted after receiving support from the CARMAT device, in seven countries, notably France and Germany.
On average, they used the artificial heart for about 156 days, with one case reaching more than 300 days. The goal of making the device “beat forever,” without the need for transplantation, is a future objective, called destination therapy, which is still under study and may take years.
Why this matters: donor shortage and heart failure
According to the NDMAIS portal, the major problem the plastic heart tries to address is the shortage of organs. It is estimated that only a small portion of patients who need a transplant actually manage to undergo one, and the waiting list for a compatible donor can drag on for months or years.
In the meantime, many patients with advanced heart failure deteriorate and reach surgery in worse conditions.
It is precisely in this gap that the device fits. By taking over the heart’s function and keeping the body supplied, it allows the patient to wait for a transplant in better physical condition.
If one day approved for permanent use, the plastic heart could go beyond the bridge and become an alternative for those who are not even eligible for a transplant, which would represent one of the greatest possible advances in cardiology.
Promise and caution: the future of the plastic heart
The enthusiasm is real, but calls for balance. The plastic heart is already authorized in parts of Europe, had its certification updated to the stricter European standard in 2025, and undergoes constant improvements.
In light of the global shortage of organs, scientists and engineers project that the technology will transform the treatment of heart diseases in the coming decades, increasing survival chances around the world.
On the other hand, there is a warning that cannot be ignored. CARMAT entered into judicial recovery proceedings in July 2025, due to lack of resources, and since then has been seeking a financial solution to continue operating, which adds uncertainty to the future of the project.
In other words, heart failure may gain a powerful weapon with the plastic heart, but the path to it becoming common, accessible, and perhaps permanent still depends on both medical advances and the survival of the company itself.
A plastic heart that adapts to the body and sustains the life of someone waiting for a transplant is the kind of advancement that seemed like science fiction.
Tell us in the comments if you would trust an artificial heart like this and if you believe that, in the future, it could completely replace the waiting list for a donor.
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