To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

CHARLOTTE -- A 21-year-old North Carolina man has a new lease on life thanks to a new heart implant device. Sivinty Puth received the Heart Mate, a Ventricular Assist Device, not a moment too soon.

The new device helps his weakened heart to pump adequate amounts of blood throughout his body. Before the device was installed, Puth could barely walk 15 feet.

"Now, with the Heart Mate II allows me to walk miles if needed," said Puth. "I actually like to go bike, biking up and down hills without running out of breath."

Cardiologists believe the device might eventually replace the need for a transplant.

"The future of patients with heart failure will go more and more to the implantable devices as they get smaller," said cardiologist Dr. Sanjeev Gulati. "[It's] less risky in terms of surgery and transplant will become less of an option."

Carolinas Medical Center just received certification to implant the device. Duke University Medical Center and UNC Hospital are the two other hospitals in the state certified with a gold seal of approval to install these devices.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney just received one of these devices.