Ed Yeates Reporting

A Utah hospital has reached a milestone; a medical team there has now implanted its 150th artificial heart in a man from Oklahoma.

More than 20 years ago, one man - a pioneer - tested out an artificial "ticker" that just might save lives. Now, 150 hearts later - at least for Utah - it's more than just a theory.

In 1982 Seattle dentist Barney Clark got a new experimental heart, a large synthetic pulsating pump. Though he lived not quite four months, he set the stage here for what has now become one of the top three artificial heart programs in the country.

New generation artificial hearts now come in all sizes and shapes. A left ventricular assist device called the LVAD was first implanted in Gayle Rumsey at LDS Hospital back in 1993. It kept him alive until he got a real heart transplant. The Idaho farmer, now retired, was also here for today's celebration.

Gayle Rumsey , First LVAD Implant: "August 24th will be 12 years. I've had 12 wonderful years."

Sitting not to far from Gayle was Marty Hall from Oklahoma, who just last month was implanted with the 150th LVAD.

Horace (Marty) Hall, 150th LVAD Implant: "It sure saved my life. I wouldn't be here at all today if it wasn't for that."

The newer generation LVAD is smaller and quieter. The pump, with a suspended impeller, won't even be able to hear at all. And they'll get small enough to fit even a baby. Dr. James Long says still to come is the cloning of hearts and other organs.

James Long, M.D., LDS Hospital Artificial Heart Program: "We'll cross the ethical bounds. We'll cross the scientific bounds and we'll be able to use that great knowledge that's built within these cells to customize organs."

In some cases, these pumps also allow a real heart to rest while stem cells build new heart muscle cells that may actually repair a failing heart.