In 1982, Robert's team carried out an artificial heart implant - the second ever, 13 years after Domingo Liotta and Denton Cooley's first in 1969. William DeVries first implanted the Jarvik-7 into retired dentist Barney Clark at the University of Utah on December 1, 1982. Clark required frequent visits to the hospital for the next 112 days, after which he died.

During frequent press conferences to update the patient's condition, Jarvik, along with DeVries, briefed the world's media on Clark's condition.

The next several implantations of the Jarvik-7 heart were conducted by Humana, a large health care insurance company. The second patient, William J. Schroeder, survived 620 days.

In 1983, Jarvik and DeVries received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.

He was elected as member of the Euorpean Academy of Engineering in 1998.