Remarkably, Evans-Smith waited only nine days for his transplant, thanks to the XPS system, which enhances the chances of using donor organs through extensive testing and rehabilitation.

Post-transplant, Evans-Smith reported significant improvements in his health, expressing joy over his newfound ability to engage in physical activities without the limitations of COPD.

The surgical team, led by consultants Marius Berman, Giuseppe Aresu, and Pradeep Kaul, expressed pride in being the first UK hospital to utilize this groundbreaking technology.

The UK has achieved a significant milestone by successfully performing its first double-lung transplant using the innovative 'lungs in a box' technology known as the XPS system from XVIVO.

This procedure, known as ex-vivo lung perfusion (EVLP), allows for the reconditioning of marginally acceptable or unacceptable donor lungs outside the body, thereby increasing the availability of viable lungs for transplant.

Daniel Evans-Smith, a 49-year-old patient suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), received the transplant at the Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Cambridge after being on the waiting list since summer 2024.

The XPS machine features a bubble-like chamber with pumps and filters that repair and recondition lungs, simulating the human body environment and allowing for normal lung function for up to six hours after removal.

Once the lungs perform successfully for three hours in the XPS system, they can be preserved on ice for transplantation, significantly improving the quality of the organs received by patients.

While EVLP is common in Europe and the US, it is not widely practiced in the UK, making Royal Papworth the only center currently using it for clinical cases.

Experts believe the XPS system could significantly increase the availability of lungs for transplant within the NHS, potentially saving hundreds of lives annually.

The success of Evans-Smith's case underscores the potential for new technologies to address the shortage of suitable lungs for transplant in the UK.

Since Evans-Smith's surgery, three additional transplants have been performed using the XPS system, demonstrating its effectiveness and potential for broader application.