On July 16, 1963, Paul Winchell received U.S. Patent No. 3,097,366 on an Artificial Heart, which he developed with the assistance of Henry Heimlich (inventor of the Heimlich maneuver). A similar artificial heart was developed at The University of Utah School of Medicine, but Winchell’s patent was cited as prior art. Winchell eventually donated his heart patent to the university. It is unclear whether Winchell’s design had any impact on Robert Jarvik design of the Jarvik-7. Heimlich admitted having seen the patent, but denied that any element of Winchell’s design was used. However, the basic principles used in Winchell’s heart and Jarvik’s heart are exactly the same.

Paul was a well know actor and ventriloquist, best-known for his television appearances wih ventriloquist dummies Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smiff, including on Winchell’s own show, Winchell Mahoney Time. He was lesser known as inventor, despite earning more than 30 patents, including 3,042,086 on a DEVICE FOR FILLING BLOOD CONTANERS; 3,063,235 on a WARNING INDICATOR FOR INTERRUPTED POWER SUPPLY FOR FREEZERS; 3,063,563 on a TANDEM SIFTER FOR FLOUR AND OTHER PRODUCTS; 3,071,113 on a RETRACTABLE FOUNTAIN PEN; 3,077,177 WARNING INDICATORS FOR INTERIRUPTED POWER SUPPLY OF FREEZERS; 3,079,160 in GUIDEWAY SELECTOR FOR MULTI-TRACK RECORDS; 3,110,501 on a LAMINATED DISC PAD PHONOGRAPH RECORDS; 3,110,424 on a POURING EXPEDITER FOR SUGAR, SALT, AND THE LIKE; 3,112,387 on a FROZEN BLOOD PLASMA DEFROSTER; 3,120,192 on a HAND PUMP FOR TRAINSFERINPG LIQUIDS; 3,128,477 on a NON-BULGING GARTER FASTENER; 3,133,140 on a LENS COVER; 3809463 on a ANIMATION CELLS AND TECHNIQUE;