This device is described here for historical purposes. It is no longer in use.

The Jarvik-7 total artificial heart is probably the best known of the artificial heart devices. Named for its designer, Dr.  Robert Jarvik, the Jarvik-7 is designed to function like the natural heart. Clinical evaluations of a total artificial heart for permanent use in patients began in 1982, when surgeons at the University of Utah implanted the device in a patient named Barney Clark. He survived with the Jarvik-7 for 112 days. Five more implantations of the Jarvik-7 were performed through 1985. The longest survivor was William Schroeder, who was supported by the Jarvik-7 for 620 days. By the late 1980s, surgeons at 16 centers (including THI) had used the Jarvik-7 as a bridge to transplantation in more than 70 patients.  Subsequently, the Jarvik-7 was called the Symbion total artificial heart. Today, it is called the CardioWest total artificial heart and is used in selected centers as a bridge to transplantation.

The Pump

The Jarvik-7 has two pumps, much like the heart's ventricles. Each sphere-shaped polyurethane "ventricle" has a disk-shaped mechanism that pushes the blood from the inlet valve to the outlet valve. The ventricles are pneumatically (air) powered. Air is pulsed through the ventricular air chambers at rates of 40 to 120 beats per minute. The artificial heart is attached to the heart's natural atria by cuffs made of Dacron™ felt. The drive-lines out of the ventricular air chambers are made of reinforced polyurethane tubing. The lines are covered where they exit the skin with velour-covered Silastic™ to ensure stability and encourage tissue growth even with movement by the patient.

The Console

The air-driven, external power system powers the pump through drive-lines that enter the heart through the patient's left side. The large console on wheels is as large and as heavy (but not quite as tall) as a standard household refrigerator, and is normally connected to sources of  compressed air, vacuum, and electricity. The system is backed up by a rechargeable battery in case of power failure and includes on-board compressed air tanks (modified scuba type) for use during patient transport. Controls in the console allow the doctor to control pump rate, pumping pressure, and other essential functions.

For more information, you can read an article entitled, "CardioWest Total Artificial Heart: A  Retrospective Controlled Study," which appears in Volume 23 (1999) of the journal Artificial Organs (pp. 204-207).

Updated April 2006