In 2001, SynCardia Systems, a private company formed to commercialize the Jarvik 7 artificial heart, was founded by world-renowned heart surgeon Jack G. Copeland, MD, interventional cardiologist Marvin J. Slepian, MD, and biomedical engineer Richard G. Smith.

Today, the modern version of the Jarvik 7, the SynCardia Total Artificial Heart is the only U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Health Canada and CE approved Total Artificial Heart in the world. Originally used as a permanent replacement heart, the Total Artificial Heart is currently approved as a bridge to human heart transplant for people dying from end-stage biventricular failure and has been used with more than 850 implants.