The life of a 63-year-old man was saved on Sunday thanks to the first-ever implantation in Israel of an artificial heart.

The groundbreaking, seven-hour procedure was carried out at Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center by an extensive medical team that included cardiologists, heart surgeons, anesthesiologists, intensive care specialists, operating room nurses and heart-lung machine technicians.

The patient’s heart was replaced with a unique artificial organ made of titanium, animal-derived tissues and advanced sensors.