Ventricular Assist DevicesThe Jarvik 2000 represents a dramatic improvement in artificial hearts over its predecessor Jarvik-7. The Jarvik 2000 is a ventricular assist device. Ventricular assist devices (VADs) represent a less invasive alternative to artificial heart transplantation. They are intended to assist the heart in pumping blood, not replace it. These devices are implanted in the body and pump blood through the aorta, thus relieving the weakened ventricle of its normal workload. It works like a rotary pump so that the blood flows constantly and therefore there is no more pulse. This device is not completely autonomous; a battery pack and external components should be worn around the waist. This allows the patient to move without restrictions and not be immobilized as was the case with the original artificial heart. The battery pack transmits energy up to a component around the skull, the energy is then conducted through wires that pass internally along the neck. Unlike the Jarvik-7, which was intended to serve as a temporary artificial heart until a donor could be found and a transplant could be performed, the Jarvik-2000 was developed as a permanent assist device.5Peter HoughtonMr. Peter Houghton is the first patient to have the ventricular assist device fitted. He was 61 at the time of the operation in June 2000. Mr Houghton, who suffered from heart failure, was expected to live just a couple of weeks longer without a heart transplant or artificial help. He underwent a 14-hour operation to prolong his life. He showed significant progress six weeks after surgery with notable improvement in heart and liver functions. Mr Houghton is able to exercise thanks to the ability to manually control the speed of the device's blood flow throughout his body. Recently, on August 16, 2004, Mr. Houghton set the world record for the longest time spent as a patient with a cardiac assist device; that day he had lived with the device for 1518 days. His condition has improved so much that he can live with the device turned off for short periods of time.