Dr. Robert K. Jarvik, renowned for designing the first permanent artificial heart, has passed away at age 79 due to complications from Parkinson’s disease, as confirmed by his wife, Marilyn vos Savant.
Jarvik’s most notable achievement, the Jarvik-7, was implanted in 1982 in a 61-year-old patient by Dr. William C. DeVries. Approved by the FDA for permanent use, the Jarvik-7 marked a historic milestone in cardiac innovation, although its approval was later withdrawn in 1990 over quality control concerns.
Jarvik’s Lasting Impact:
- Jarvik-7: First artificial heart used as a permanent implant.
- Legacy: Laid the foundation for today’s total artificial heart (TAH) industry.
- Current successors:
- BiVacor: Recently received FDA Breakthrough Device Designation.
- SynCardia: Holds the only commercially available TAH and is developing a fully implantable next-gen version.
Jarvik’s contributions continue to inspire ongoing innovation in artificial heart technology, shaping the future of advanced heart failure treatment.
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