Smart stethoscope checks for implanted heart pump health
Official title: Non-invasive Condition Monitoring of Ventricular Assistive Devices Using Automated Advanced Acoustic Methods
Funded at Rochester Institute of Technology · NIH-11171784 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Using a smart electronic stethoscope and a single-lead ECG to detect when an implanted ventricular assist device (VAD) is working normally or has a mechanical problem for people with VADs.
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, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $148,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM149506-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11171784 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who have an implanted ventricular assist device (VAD) and are willing to provide or allow recordings from a smart stethoscope and single-lead ECG would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without an implanted VAD, or those with device types or clinical conditions not represented in the training data, are unlikely to benefit from this work.
What this research studies
If you have an implanted VAD, researchers are developing a way to tell whether the pump is working properly using only a smart stethoscope and a single-lead ECG. They will train advanced signal-processing and machine-learning algorithms on sounds and ECG patterns produced by a hemodynamic simulator that mimics human heart valves and underfilled ventricles. The goal is for the system to learn acoustic and electrical signatures that separate normal pump/hemodynamic states from dysfunctional ones. Success here could lead to an easy bedside or home check that flags possible pump problems for faster follow-up.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could let clinicians and patients detect VAD mechanical or flow problems noninvasively with simple tools, potentially reducing invasive testing and delays in care.
How similar studies have gone: Acoustic monitoring and machine-learning approaches have shown promise in small device- and valve-focused studies, but applying them specifically to implanted VADs is relatively novel.
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
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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.