Symposium Marks 25th Anniversary of First Artificial Heart Implantation

December 12, 2007 - Over 200 surgeons, biomedical engineers and heart device executives gathered at the University of Utah on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 to celebrate the first implant of the Jarvik 7 artificial heart on Dec. 1, 1982, and to present the current state of artificial heart pumping technology.

Today, the modern version of the Jarvik 7, SynCardia Systems’ CardioWest temporary Total Artificial Heart (TAH-t) artificial heart, is the first and only temporary artificial heart to receive FDA, Health Canada and CE approval.

“When all other treatments fail, the CardioWest artificial heart is able to save the sickest of the sick,” explained cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Jack Copeland. “These patients are often days, if not hours from death. Their survival is dependent on receiving a donor heart, or a CardioWest artificial heart as a bridge to human heart transplant.”

In the 1990s, the Jarvik 7 technology was transferred to University Medical Center (UMC) in Tucson, AZ, where it was renamed the CardioWest. Originally designed as a permanent replacement heart, UMC surgeon Dr. Copeland was the first surgeon to successfully use the artificial heart as a bridge-to-transplant in 1985.

For more information: www.syncardia.com