A new type of battery for leadless pacemakers
Official title: Leadless Pacemaker Betavoltaic Power Source
Funded at City Labs, INC. · NIH-10429931 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new type of tiny battery for leadless pacemakers that could last up to 20 years, making life easier for heart patients by reducing the need for surgeries and improving their overall quality of life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | City Labs, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Miami, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | June 15, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2022 |
| Award (this year) | $1,050,471 |
| NIH project number | 5R44HL145950-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10429931 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients who require cardiac pacing and are suitable for leadless pacemaker implantation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not require a pacemaker or those with specific contraindications for leadless devices may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a betavoltaic power source for leadless cardiac pacemakers (LCPs), which are innovative devices that do not require traditional leads. The goal is to create a battery that is significantly smaller and more powerful than current lithium-carbon batteries, allowing for longer-lasting and more versatile pacemakers. By achieving a battery size that is one-sixth of the current model and extending its lifespan to 20 years, this research aims to facilitate the use of dual and multi-chamber LCPs, which could benefit a larger population of patients with heart conditions. Patients may experience fewer surgeries and improved quality of life due to the enhanced technology.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide patients with longer-lasting and more effective leadless pacemakers, reducing the need for multiple surgeries.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in developing advanced battery technologies for medical devices, indicating potential success for this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
City Labs, INC.
Miami, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cabauy, Peter — City Labs, INC.
- Study coordinator: Cabauy, Peter
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.