On December 3, 1982, dentists’ retiree Barney Clark became the first person to receive a permanent artificial heart, the Jarvik-7, at the University of Utah Medical Center. Surgeons implanted the device into his chest in an effort to prolong his life after severe heart failure. Clark survived 112 days with the mechanical heart, enduring complications, infections, and constant medical supervision. The procedure drew intense media coverage and raised ethical questions about experimental life-extending technologies. While the Jarvik-7 was not widely adopted, it paved the way for later ventricular assist devices and transplant support systems. The case remains a landmark in discussions about high-risk medical innovation in the United States.
