Blood flow that protects vessels: pulsatile vs non-pulsatile support with a total artificial heart
Official title: Blood Trauma, Vascular Remodeling, and Vasoregulation with Total Body Continuous Versus Pulsatile Artificial Circulation
Funded at Geisinger Clinic · NIH-11384469 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether pulsatile blood flow from a total artificial heart reduces blood damage and artery changes compared with continuous flow in a large animal model, aiming to improve safety for people who may need these devices.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Geisinger Clinic NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Danville, United States) |
| Project start | August 9, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $629,086 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL172022-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11384469 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with advanced heart failure who may eventually require total artificial heart support or whose care may be influenced by insights from pulsatile versus non-pulsatile flow.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not undergoing artificial heart therapy or without exposure to pulsatile flow concepts may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will compare pulsatile and non-pulsatile blood flow produced by the BiVACOR total artificial heart in chronic animals to see how each flow pattern affects blood injury, vessel remodeling, and the body’s blood pressure regulation. They will use a single device to deliver both flow types and will monitor markers of bleeding, clotting, and vascular health over time. If pulsatile flow shows fewer adverse effects, this could guide the design and use of future artificial hearts to improve patient outcomes. The study is conducted in animals to understand physiologic responses before any human trials. This work lays the groundwork for safer, more tolerable long-term circulatory support for people with end-stage heart failure.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If pulsatile flow proves safer, patients needing total artificial heart support could experience fewer complications and better quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research shows that pulsatility may influence blood trauma and vascular responses, but this is the first chronic large-animal comparison using the same device.
Where this research is happening
-
Geisinger Clinic
Danville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bartoli, Carlo R — Geisinger Clinic
- Study coordinator: Bartoli, Carlo R
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.