Her last wish was that she should be used for transplants.

But about 60 percent of patients are not candidates for transplants.

At the same time, the demand for transplants was growing.

With no donor heart available for transplant, she would die.

"But this technology will also increase the number of organs available for transplant."

These studies also hope to determine the best time for transplant of the cells following a heart attack.

He said the average mortality rate for transplants was 5 to 10 percent.

Families give permission for transplants in only 300 of those cases.

This has become an increasingly important public health issue, since about 4,000 Americans die each year while waiting for transplants.

Nationwide, 17,266 people are waiting for transplants, and only 3,777 have received them so far this year.