The Jarvik 2000 FlowMakerŽ has been used to treat more than 200 patients in the U.S., Europe and Asia, many of whom were very ill or near-death. Most bridge-to-transplant patients have either undergone transplantation already or are currently being supported by the Jarvik 2000. Most lifetime-use patients have been rehabilitated to a dramatically improved life at home, and in some cases patients have returned to work. The Jarvik 2000 is unobtrusive as VADs go: it is less than a tenth of the size and weight of other VADs that are widely available, such as the HeartMate and Novacor, and it operates silently. Patients typically enjoy a much-improved quality of life on the Jarvik 2000, in spite of the challenges of living with mechanical support.
Over time, the personal stories of a few Jarvik 2000 patients have appeared in the press or in special documentary projects. These stories give hope to the thousands of people worldwide who are living with end-stage congestive heart failure. Browse through these pages to learn more about their lives and their experience with the Jarvik 2000.