Monitoring the health of heart pumps using sound and ECG
Official title: Non-invasive Condition Monitoring of Ventricular Assistive Devices Using Automated Advanced Acoustic Methods
Funded at Rochester Institute of Technology · NIH-10928699 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new, easy way to check how well heart pumps (called ventricular assist devices) are working for people with severe heart failure, using a smart stethoscope and a simple heart monitor, so patients can get better care without needing complicated tests.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rochester Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $148,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM149506-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10928699 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with implanted ventricular assist devices who require regular monitoring of their device's performance.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without implanted ventricular assist devices or those with other unrelated cardiac conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to develop a non-invasive method for assessing the health of implanted ventricular assist devices (VADs) using a smart electronic stethoscope and a single lead ECG. By employing advanced signal processing and machine learning, the project seeks to classify the performance of VADs, which are crucial for patients with severe heart failure. This approach could simplify the diagnostic process, reducing the need for expensive equipment and invasive procedures. The research will utilize a specialized simulator to replicate the conditions experienced by VAD patients, allowing for thorough testing of the new monitoring techniques.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to easier and more accurate monitoring of heart pump health, improving patient outcomes and reducing the need for invasive diagnostics.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of non-invasive monitoring techniques is gaining traction, this specific approach utilizing advanced acoustics and machine learning for VADs is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kolodziej, Jason R — Rochester Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Kolodziej, Jason 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.