"What we are trying to do now, just like all of medicine, is to become more biologically based," explains Selzman. Today, research in this field is more about incremental advances, smaller steps forward. During the Barney Clark era, the field was so young (the U barely had a heart surgery program), that transformative leaps such as implanting the first artificial heart could be made. Selzman, MD, surgical director of the University of Utah's Cardiac Mechanical Support and Heart Transplant program and the Lung and Heart/Lung Transplant program. "Our Advanced Heart Failure program remains the only institution in the region actively studying novel, investigational devices to support the failing heart," says Craig H. Today, researchers at the University of Utah continue to push the boundaries of what's possible for patients like Barney Clark. Clark's willingness to pioneer this new device infused life into mechanical heart device research and challenged all of us to open our minds and question, "what is possible?" At the time, the cause of death was stated as "circulatory collapse and secondary multi-organ system failure." He left behind a legacy. Quite suddenly, on March 23, 1983, Clark passed away at the age of 62. Celebrating his 39th anniversary with his wife, Una Loy, and their children was one of the good days. The entire world held their breath, as Clark began his final journey, pioneering a new frontier of medicine involving the most symbolic of all our organs, the heart.Ī dentist and "tough old guy" from Seattle, Clark was hailed as a hero as the world witnessed him weathering hard days and enjoying some good ones too.
Others equated it with Frankenstein-like aspects, raising bioethical questions and concerns.ĭuring the seven-hour operation, reporters from around the world set up their press headquarters in the hospital cafeteria, draining the coffee supply.
Known as the Jarvik-7 (named after former U of U physician and inventor Robert Jarvik, MD), this aluminum and polyurethane device was connected to a 400-pound air compressor that would accompany Clark for the rest of his life - all 112 days of it.Īt the time, such a move was associated with the significance of putting a man on the moon or seeing Saturn's rings for the first time. Barney Clark-a heart that tore like tissue paper due to years of treatment with steroids-and replaced it with the world's first permanent artificial heart. 2, 1982, in the darkest hours of the morning, cardiothoracic surgeon William DeVries, MD, carefully removed the ravaged heart of Dr.
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Outside the University of Utah Hospital windows a blizzard swirled, inside another kind of power, not the least bit natural, was about to be set in motion.
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