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The History of the Artificial Heart

The heart has long been considered the seat of our emotions, but it is also one of the most important organs in the human body. The ability to create a machine that can duplicate the function of the biological heart is one of medicine's greatest accomplishments. During the past 50 years, the artificial heart has developed to a delicate piece of technology.

  1. Early Machines

    • The first artificial heart machines were used in the early 1950s. They were only used to keep the patient's blood flowing while the real heart was being operated on.

    Animal Experiments

    • As scientists worked on developing artificial hearts that could sustain life, they began implanting them in dogs and calves. One calf lived for more than 250 days with an artificial heart.

    Artificial Heart Program

    • The National Institute of Health began the Artificial Heart Program in 1964. The ultimate purpose of the program was to successfully complete an artificial heart transplant in a human by 1970.

    Jarvik 7

    • The Jarvik 7 was spearheaded by Robert Jarvik, the project manager of Dr. Willem Kloff's artificial heart development team. It was implanted in a dentist named Barney Clark in December 1982. The dying man survived an additional 112 days after the transplant.

    Continued Development

    • Since the 1980s, scientists have continued developing and refining the artificial heart. The original designs were powered pneumatically, causing extreme complications in mobility and risk of infection. Work continues on an electrically powered heart as well as hearts made of animal skin or biosynthetic materials.

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