Total Artificial Heart Jarvik 7, the total artificial heart designed by Dr. Robert Jarvik was invented as permanent solution for patients who suffered from heart failure. The first surgery was performed at the University of Utah by surgeons who implanted the natural heart-like device on a male patient named Barney Clark who survived for 112 days. By 1985, 5 more artificial heart implants had taken place but the longest patient only lived for 620 days. As a result, surgeons determined that although the total artificial heart was not a permanent solution, it would elongate the life of a person until a heart transplant compatible donor was available. The artificial heart had two pneumatically-powered pumps that resembled the right and left ventricles of the heart. They were attached to the heart's natural atria where their function consisted of pumping blood from the inlet valve to the outward valve. The device's tubing was made out of polyurethane while the actual openings to the heart, which had skin contact, were lined with Velour-covered Silastic; this helped to stabilize the heart as well as to encourage tissue growth so that the device could truly become part of the patient's body. Today, Jarvik 7 is most commonly known as the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart.