what purpose does the artificial heart serve
An artificial heart is a mechanical pump that temporarily takes over the work of a badly failing human heart so that blood can keep circulating and organs stay alive.
What purpose does the artificial heart serve?
Think of an artificial heart as a lifeline for people whose own hearts are so damaged that they are close to total failure.
Its main purposes are:
- To replace the heart’s pumping chambers (the ventricles) so blood can still reach the brain, kidneys, liver, and other organs.
- To act as a “bridge to transplant” — keeping a patient alive and strong enough while they wait for a donor heart.
- In some cases, to provide longer‑term support when a transplant is not immediately possible or a patient is not yet ready for one.
In practical terms, that means:
- The diseased lower chambers of the heart are removed or bypassed.
- A mechanical device is implanted that takes over the pumping work.
- External power sources and control units keep it running continuously.
Without this support, many patients with end‑stage heart failure would die while waiting for a donor heart.
Quick Scoop
- An artificial heart is a fully mechanical replacement for the heart’s main pumping chambers, not just a “booster.”
- It maintains blood circulation and oxygen delivery so vital organs don’t fail while doctors plan the next step (usually a transplant).
- Today it’s used mainly as a temporary or medium‑term solution, not a permanent one, though research is pushing toward longer‑term devices.
Mini FAQ style view
Is it permanent?
- Most currently approved total artificial hearts are designed for months of use, primarily as a bridge to transplant, not for lifelong replacement.
Who needs one?
- People with end‑stage heart failure affecting both ventricles, who are too sick to survive without mechanical support but are candidates for a transplant.
What’s the big benefit?
- It buys time: stabilizing the patient, improving their strength and organ function, and increasing the chance that a later heart transplant will succeed.
In short, the artificial heart serves as a temporary stand‑in for the real heart, keeping a person alive and functioning until a better, more permanent option is available.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.