News
December 02, 2025
Today in History: December 2, first permanent artificial heart implanted
Highlight in history
**A Groundbreaking Moment: December 2 Marks Anniversary of First Permanent Artificial Heart Implant**
December 2nd marks a significant anniversary in the history of medical innovation: the date in 1982 when the first permanent artificial heart was implanted into a human being. This pioneering surgery offered a glimmer of hope for patients suffering from end-stage heart failure and signaled a new era in cardiac care.
Dr. William DeVries led the surgical team at the University of Utah that performed the operation on Barney Clark, a 61-year-old retired dentist from Seattle. Clark was suffering from severe congestive heart failure and was deemed ineligible for a heart transplant. The artificial heart, known as the Jarvik-7, was designed by Dr. Robert Jarvik and was meant to sustain Clark's life while he awaited a donor heart.
The surgery itself was a complex and lengthy procedure, lasting over seven hours. Replacing Clark's failing heart with the Jarvik-7 was a monumental achievement, demonstrating the potential of mechanical devices to replicate the function of a vital organ.
Following the implant, Clark lived for 112 days. While his post-operative life was marked by complications, including infections and mechanical problems with the device, his survival provided valuable insights into the challenges and possibilities of artificial heart technology. The Jarvik-7 was powered by an external air compressor, which meant Clark was tethered to a large machine, limiting his mobility.
The Jarvik-7 implant was not intended as a permanent solution but rather as a bridge to transplant. However, due to the limited availability of donor hearts, Clark remained dependent on the artificial heart until his death.
Although Clark's lifespan with the Jarvik-7 was relatively short and fraught with difficulties, his case spurred significant advancements in the field of artificial heart technology. The experience gained from his implant, and subsequent research, paved the way for the development of more sophisticated and reliable devices that are now used to sustain patients awaiting heart transplants or as a long-term solution for those who are not candidates for traditional transplantation. The legacy of December 2, 1982, continues to inspire ongoing research and development in the quest to create fully implantable and long-lasting artificial hearts, offering a lifeline to individuals battling severe heart disease.
December 2nd marks a significant anniversary in the history of medical innovation: the date in 1982 when the first permanent artificial heart was implanted into a human being. This pioneering surgery offered a glimmer of hope for patients suffering from end-stage heart failure and signaled a new era in cardiac care.
Dr. William DeVries led the surgical team at the University of Utah that performed the operation on Barney Clark, a 61-year-old retired dentist from Seattle. Clark was suffering from severe congestive heart failure and was deemed ineligible for a heart transplant. The artificial heart, known as the Jarvik-7, was designed by Dr. Robert Jarvik and was meant to sustain Clark's life while he awaited a donor heart.
The surgery itself was a complex and lengthy procedure, lasting over seven hours. Replacing Clark's failing heart with the Jarvik-7 was a monumental achievement, demonstrating the potential of mechanical devices to replicate the function of a vital organ.
Following the implant, Clark lived for 112 days. While his post-operative life was marked by complications, including infections and mechanical problems with the device, his survival provided valuable insights into the challenges and possibilities of artificial heart technology. The Jarvik-7 was powered by an external air compressor, which meant Clark was tethered to a large machine, limiting his mobility.
The Jarvik-7 implant was not intended as a permanent solution but rather as a bridge to transplant. However, due to the limited availability of donor hearts, Clark remained dependent on the artificial heart until his death.
Although Clark's lifespan with the Jarvik-7 was relatively short and fraught with difficulties, his case spurred significant advancements in the field of artificial heart technology. The experience gained from his implant, and subsequent research, paved the way for the development of more sophisticated and reliable devices that are now used to sustain patients awaiting heart transplants or as a long-term solution for those who are not candidates for traditional transplantation. The legacy of December 2, 1982, continues to inspire ongoing research and development in the quest to create fully implantable and long-lasting artificial hearts, offering a lifeline to individuals battling severe heart disease.
Category:
Technology