The first artificial heart successfully implanted in a human is 42 years old as of 2024.
While the concept of artificial hearts dates back to the late 1940s, the first successful implantation was the Jarvik-7, which occurred in 1982. This makes it 42 years since that significant milestone. It is important to clarify that we are talking about the age of the first successfully implanted heart, not the concept or the first attempt.
Here's a table summarizing the key information:
| Milestone | Year | Age (as of 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| First successful implant (Jarvik-7) | 1982 | 42 Years |
The Jarvik-7 was a result of the combined efforts of a team including Willem Johan Kolff, William DeVries, Jeffrey Christopher, and Robert Jarvik.
Key takeaways about the development of artificial hearts:
- The Jarvik-7 marked a major breakthrough in medical technology.
- The development of artificial hearts spanned decades, with earlier attempts and concepts appearing in the 1940s.
- While 1982 represents the landmark achievement, the research and development surrounding artificial hearts remains ongoing.
- Although there have been other similar inventions prior, the Jarvik-7 was the first to be successfully implanted and support the patient for an extended time.
