Artificial Organs

The artificial heart valve. Developed by Charles Hufnagel, MD, in 1952, the first artificial heart valve, also known as the caged ball, represented the first long-term success in prosthetic heart valves. The valve utilized a metal cage that stored a silicone elastomer ball. When the blood pressure inside of the chamber in the heart exceeded that of the pressure on the outside of the chamber, the ball was pushed up against the cage and allowed the blood to flow. Source: Georgetown University