heart, artificial

heart, artificial, external or surgically implanted mechanical device designed to replace a patient's diseased heart . The first one used on a human being, the Jarvik-7, was implanted (1982) in Barney Clark, who lived for 112 days another patient, William Schroeder, lived 620 days. Two major drawbacks of the Jarvik-7 were the danger of stroke from clots formed in the artificial heart and the need for the patient to be hooked to the external air compressor that powered the pump. By 1989 such devices had largely become a bridge to human heart transplants (see transplantation, medical ).


A related device, the ventricular assist device (VAD), or artificial ventricle, is an internally implanted pump designed to aid a person with a failing left ventricle unlike an artificial heart, it does not require removal of the patient's heart. A version for temporary use was developed in 1964. In 1991 doctors implanted the first portable VAD it was powered by a battery pack. Its pump used a special interior lining to promote the growth of a surface similar to that which lines the blood vessels, reducing the risk of the formation of blood clots, which can cause stroke.


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