Video: Sheep in China gets metal heart

Doctors in China have implanted a metal heart into a sheep using state of the art aerospace technology.

Tianjiu the sheep was given a battery-powered heart, which uses magnetic suspension and hydrodynamic bearings to produce an implantable third generation ventricular assist device.

The device is the first of its kind and the technology was jointly developed by scientists at the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology and TEDA International Cardiovascular Hospital.

The operation was carried out as part of an experiment to test the new technology, which if successful could end the suffering of millions of people in China.

Tianjiu has lived for 62 days so far and is said to be doing well, after receiving the implant back in March.