HeartMate (left ventricular assist device)

A HeartMate is a type of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) used to support the heart’s function in people with severe heart failure. It is a mechanical pump implanted inside the chest that helps pump blood from the left ventricle—the heart’s main pumping chamber—to the rest of the body. The device is connected to an external controller and power source, allowing continuous blood flow, reducing the workload on the heart, and improving symptoms and survival. LVADs like HeartMate are often used as a bridge to transplant or as a long-term treatment when transplant isn’t an option.