Robert L. Tools (July 31, 1942 – November 30, 2001) was the world's first recipient of a fully self-contained

artificial heart An artificial heart is a device that replaces the heart. Artificial hearts are typically used to bridge the time to heart transplantation, or to permanently replace the heart in the case that a heart transplant (from a deceased human or, exper ...

, called

AbioCor AbioCor was a total artificial heart (TAH) developed by the Massachusetts-based company AbioMed. It was fully implantable within a patient, due to a combination of advances in miniaturization, biosensors, plastics and energy transfer. The AbioCor ...

. The operation took place on September 13th, 2001. He survived for 151 days without a living heart. Dr. Joseph Fredi at

Saint Thomas Hospital Saint Thomas West Hospital, formerly Saint Thomas Hospital, is a 541-acute-care-bed health care facility located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. The hospital sees 21,388 total admissions and 32,000 emergency department visits annually ...

suggested the experimental procedure based on his knowledge of a research project by Abiomed. While recovering from surgery, Robert had the chance to enjoy some of his favorite past time hobbies, fishing and dining out. While at Jewish Hospital, Robert became renowned and received press throughout the world on shows like Cooking Network, Dateline, ''

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jay Leno that first aired from May 25, 1992, to May 29, 2009. It resumed production on March 1, 2010 and ended on February 6, 2014. The fourth incarnation of the ...

'', and CNN. As a result of Robert's press, he received visits from Lt. Governors,

The Oak Ridge Boys The Oak Ridge Boys are an American country and gospel vocal quartet originating in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The group was founded in the 1940s as the Oak Ridge Quartet. They became popular in Southern gospel during the 1950s. Their name was chang ...

, and

Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali (; born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer and activist. Nicknamed "The Greatest", he is regarded as one of the most significant sports figures of the 20th century, ...

. While meeting with Ali, Tools earned the name "#1 Champ" because of his fight to survive. Due to continued complications of abdominal bleeding and a stroke, Robert died November 30, 2001.

References

External links

*http://www.heartpioneers.com/tools_bio.html *http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2001/11/30/heart.htm 1942 births 2001 deaths {{US-med-bio-stub

See also

References

External links