French scientists unveiled a working prototype of a fully artificial heart. Dr. Allan Carpentier and his team presented the heart which is based on the technology of satellites and airplanes.

"It's the same principle in the airplane as in the body," said Patrick Coulombier, chief operating officer of Carmat, the manufacturer.

The artificial heart would have  the same tiny sensors that measure air pressure and altitude in an airplane or satellite. These sensors would  detect things like the heart's pumping speed and the pressure on its walls.

It is coated in specially treated tissue to prevent immune system rejection and the formation of blood clots. It can adjust to blood pressure changes which uses the guided missile technology.

The heart has been tested on sheep for three to six months.  But it is yet to be used on humans. The  artificial heart would initially be used for patients who had suffered a massive heart attack or who had heart failure.  But eventually it could be used in patients  are not that sick. The testing on humans would commence in the next two years.

Previously developed hearts have not been able to alter their pumping speed. But the new heart resembles a real heart with two pumps to flow blood into lungs and rest of the body.