Artificial Heart

One of his doctors, Robert Dowling, said, ”Bob became a dear friend to all of us.” 

“We will miss Bob’s laugh, his sense of humor and his fighting spirit.”

The 59-year-old patient first received the softball-sized titanium and plastic heart on July 2. At the time, doctors only expected him to live for a month.

Five months later, the retired telephone company worker developed bleeding in his abdominal area due to an anti-coagulation problem, which finally caused his death. According to the hospital, the problems were not related to the artificial heart, but to already-existing health problems.

Before receiving the implant, Tools suffered from heart failure, diabetes and kidney disease and was therefore deemed ineligible for a heart transplant because his health problems were too great. At the time of the operation, doctors said they hoped Mr. Tools’ life would be extended to two months.

Four other patients, also participating in the clinical trial, are living with AbioCor hearts. A fifth patient in Houston underwent the surgery this week, but did not survive the operation.

“Prior to coming to Jewish Hospital, Bob would have faded away slowly at home,” his wife, Carol, said in a statement. “After our decision to participate in this experimental procedure, he has been able to make a difference for mankind, enjoy some of his favorite things in life, and experience a bit of notoriety — and for Bob, nothing could have been better.”

Remembering his courage, Dr. Dowling added, “Though we are grieving the loss of a true medical pioneer and dear friend, his spirit has emboldened us to continue our fight against heart failure – a disease that is responsible for the deaths of 250,000 people per year in the U.S. alone.”

Tools held a press conference in August and said that there was no question about his participation in the clinical trial.

“I could sit here and die, or I could come here and take a chance,” he said from a chair in his doctor’s office at Jewish Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. “It was an experiment… I asked for it because I had no more chances to survive.”

Tools said his new heart was heavier than his original one, and made more noise. “The biggest thing is getting used to not having a heartbeat — I have a whirring sound. And that makes me realize that I’m alive because I can hear it without a stethoscope.”

Tools’ health improved enough after the implant to be able to take frequent excursions out of the hospital, including a fishing trip. A stroke on November 11, however, ended those trips. Today’s statement from Jewish Hospital stated his decline was not related to the stroke.

The AbioCor Implantable Replacement Heart is said to be the world’s first self-contained artificial heart. It is battery-powered and runs without wires, tubes or hoses protruding from the chest. Experts say it is an improvement over past artificial hearts that attached to bulky wires and pumps outside of the body.

The most famous example was the Jarvik-7, first implanted in patient Barney Clark in 1982. The Jarvik had an external console about the size of a washing machine. No recipient lived longer than 620 days with it.

The AbioCor is designed to move blood through the lungs and to the rest of the body, simulating the rhythm of a heartbeat.