Jarvik artificial heartIn 1982, Dr. William C. DeVries replaced the diseased heart of Barney Clark with the Jarvik-7, the first permanent artificial heart ever used for a human patient. This was the first of a series of five implants of the Jarvik total artificial heart during the next three years. The first patient, 61-year-old Barney Clark, survived for 112 days. Only four others received the Jarvik as a permanent replacement heart. The second, William Schroeder, lived 620 days, dying in Aug 1986 at age 54. Further patients received the artificial heart designed by Robert K. Jarvik only as a temporary device while awaiting heart transplants.[Image: May 1985 LIFE magazine cover showing Bill Schroeder with Dr/ William DeVries.] |
