The Jarvik 7
People around the world were amazed when Dr. William DeVries implanted the first successful artificial heart into patient Barney Clark in 1982. Designed by Dr. Robert Jarvik to replace a damaged heart, this Jarvik 7 unit was one of many packaged for shipment when the FDA decided it wanted more tests performed. Even though these $25,000 devices passed the tests, the FDA insisted that the manufacturer could not sell them, but had to make new ones to carry its stamp of approval.