Developing a new pump for pediatric heart support
Official title: Efficient low flow pump for pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
Funded at Mira Medical, LLC · NIH-11005336 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new heart support pump specifically made for babies and young children, aiming to keep their blood safe while helping them breathe better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mira Medical, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Potomac, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2024 |
| Project end | September 19, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $306,643 |
| NIH project number | 1R41HL176259-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11005336 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are pediatric patients, particularly toddlers and neonates, who require extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are adults or do not require ECMO support will not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating a specialized extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) pump tailored for pediatric and neonatal patients. The pump is designed to operate at low blood flow rates, which is crucial for minimizing damage to red blood cells and reducing complications like hemolysis and platelet activation. The team will use advanced modeling techniques to optimize the pump's design and ensure it meets the specific needs of young patients requiring heart support. Testing will be conducted to evaluate the pump's performance and safety in a clinical setting.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to safer and more effective heart support for infants and young children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in developing specialized pumps for pediatric use, indicating potential for success in this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Mira Medical, LLC
Potomac, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cleary, Kevin R. — Mira Medical, LLC
- Study coordinator: Cleary, Kevin R.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Diffuse optical brain imaging to monitor ECMO patients at bedside
A patient-friendly look at using a safe, portable brain-imaging method to monitor children and adults on ECMO for brain health right at the bedside.
-
Searching for inherited genetic causes of ME/CFS
Researchers will sequence the genomes of relatives with ME/CFS to find rare inherited genetic changes that might cause the illness.
-
Monitoring brain health in patients on life support for heart or lung failure
This study is looking at new ways to safely check how your brain is doing while you're on ECMO, a life-saving treatment for serious heart or lung problems, to help doctors make better decisions and protect your brain health during your care.
-
Investigating the effects of blood clots and oxygen levels during heart support treatment.
This study is looking at how the heart-lung machine used in severe heart failure treatment might cause blood clots and brain injuries, with the goal of finding ways to help patients have better brain health during and after their treatment.
-
Understanding how VA-ECMO affects heart function in heart attacks
This study is looking at how a special heart-lung machine called VA-ECMO affects heart function in people having a severe heart attack, with the hope of finding better ways to help patients recover.
-
Identifying brain injury markers in critically ill children on ECMO.
This study is looking to find new ways to check for brain injuries in kids who are getting a special treatment called ECMO for serious heart and lung problems, so doctors can better protect their brains and help them recover.
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.