Soft wireless heart implant for long-term heart failure monitoring
Soft wireless multimodal cardiac implantable devices for long-term investigating heart failure pathogenesis
An ultra-soft, fully implantable wireless heart sensor and pacing system designed to track electrical and metabolic signals over time for people with heart failure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | George Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11142604 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are building a miniaturized, mechanically soft implant that combines high-density electrical sensors and metabolic detectors with wireless power, storage, control, and data communication. The device is designed to sit on the heart with minimal motion artifact and to both record signals and deliver pacing when needed. Teams will test the system in living animal models to map how electrical and metabolic changes evolve during heart failure and with pacing therapy. The long-term aim is to enable closed-loop monitoring and therapies that could guide more precise care for people with heart disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with diagnosed heart failure or those at high risk of progressive heart dysfunction, particularly patients who may benefit from implantable cardiac monitoring or pacing, would be the most likely candidates for future human trials.
Not a fit: People without heart disease, those not eligible for implantable devices (for example because of active infection, high surgical risk, or certain bleeding disorders), or those seeking noninvasive monitoring are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could allow continuous, precise monitoring and tailored pacing that detects worsening heart failure earlier and guides better treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Existing implantable monitors and pacemakers have proven value, but this specific combination of ultra-soft, high-density electrical and metabolic mapping with wireless energy for chronic use is novel and has so far been tested mainly in animal models.
Where this research is happening
Washington, United States
- George Washington University — Washington, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lu, Luyao — George Washington University
- Study coordinator: Lu, Luyao
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 below.