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:

  1. The diseased lower chambers of the heart are removed or bypassed.
  2. A mechanical device is implanted that takes over the pumping work.
  3. 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.