Artificial Heart Devices Essay - 1776 Words

Artificial Heart Devices In its never ending pursuit of advancement, science has reached a crucial biotechnological plateau, the creation of artificial organs. Such a concept may seem easy to comprehend until one considers the vast knowledge required to provide a functional substitute for one of natures creations. One then realizes the true immensity of this breakthrough. Since ancient times, humans have viewed the heart as more than just a physical part of the body. It has been thought the seat of the soul, the source of emotion, and the center of each individuals existence. For many years, doctors and researchers left the heart untouched because they thought it was too delicate, too crucial to withstand the rigors of surgery.†¦show more content†¦Artificial heart devices are indeed a biotechnical wonder. Although they are not yet perfected for permanent implantation, they are the most reliable substitutes for bad heart parts until other functional, transplantables can be located. The Jarvik-7 was the first artificial device heart which was created by Symbion Incorporated. This system was used to replace the heart of Dr. Barney Clark, the first artificial heart patient. The device lasted for one- hundred and twelve days before Mr. Clark sank into an agony of complications and died. The Jarvik-7 was implanted four more times to replace failing hearts, with similar results, before the federal authorities halted the procedure. Other devices have made progress since the Jarvik-7. One of the more successful inventions is the left ventricle assist device (LAVD). This device incorporates a host of hard won technological advances. Perhaps the most important is its quot;bio-compatiblequot; materials, which have allowed the LAVD to function without problems for well over a year in a patients body. The LAVD has been implanted in more than seven hundred people for up to seventeen months, as they have awaited human heart transplants(Stipp 38). It is difficult to fathom the great scientific ingenuity that was required to develop these devices. However, we must not be blinded from seeing the whole picture. In assuming its role as a boostShow MoreRelatedEssay on Artifical Heart Can Save Lives554 Words   |  3 Pagesneeded a heart transplant? Their heart was failing and the only way that they could continue to live and escape death was to have an operation to transplant their heart. But what if there was not a heart available for them when they required it the most? An artificial heart transplant would be a great option that could save their life. The artificial heart is one of the greatest inventions ever invented. â€Å"Dr. Robert Jarvik is widely known as the inventor of the first permanent total artificial heartRead MoreFrankenstein Science Fact Or Science Fiction?1735 Words   |  7 PagesFrankenstein Science fact or Science fiction? 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