Artificial heart Artificial heart An artificial heart is a device that replaces the heart. Artificial hearts are typically used to bridge the time to heart transplantation, or to permanently replace the heart in case heart transplantation is impossible. Although other similar inventions preceded it from the late 1940s, the first artificial heart to be successfully implanted in a human was the Jarvik-7 in 1982, designed by a team including Willem Johan Kolff and Robert Jarvik. An artificial heart is distinct from a ventricular assist device (VAD) designed to support a failing heart. It is also distinct from a cardiopulmonary bypass machine, which
Artificial urinary sphincter Artificial urinary sphincter An artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) is an implanted device to treat moderate to severe stress urinary incontinence, most commonly in men. The AUS is designed to supplement the function of the natural urinary sphincter that restricts urine flow out of the bladder. Although models vary, the common thread among currently available designs is a mechanical constriction mechanism placed around the urethra, and an externally accessible control mechanism allowing the user to relieve the constriction to allow urination. Artificial urinary sphincter surgeries have been performed since being first introduced in the early 1970s. The most commonly used device