Totally Implanted Left Ventricular Assist Device to help heart failure patients
Official title: Development of a Totally Implanted Left Ventricular Assist Device
Funded at Corvion, INC. · NIH-11290848 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new device aims to power an implanted heart pump with an internal battery and wireless charging to reduce infections and improve quality of life for people with advanced heart failure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Corvion, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Webster, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2025 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,061,414 |
| NIH project number | 5R44HL177945-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11290848 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with advanced heart failure who are potential candidates for LVAD therapy (bridge-to-transplant, bridge-to-recovery, or destination therapy).
✕Less likely to help
Patients with heart failure who are not eligible for LVADs or who have contraindications to implanted devices.
What this research studies
This grant supports developing a fully implanted left ventricular assist device (TI-LVAD) to replace the external, drivable parts of conventional devices. The goal is to lower complications like infections, stroke, and bleeding while improving daily activity and comfort for people awaiting transplant, recovery, or long-term support. The project focuses on an ultra-low-power pump, an implantable battery, and wireless transcutaneous charging to remove the need for external driveline cables. Researchers will work with animal models and human-relevant data to refine the device’s safety and performance before potential human testing. If successful, the TI-LVAD could offer a more convenient, safer option for managing advanced heart failure.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience fewer infections and better quality of life with a fully implanted, wireless-powered LVAD.
How similar studies have gone: Previous LVAD devices have reduced certain complications but continue to require external components; this project aims to overcome those limitations with a fully implanted design.
Where this research is happening
-
Corvion, INC.
Webster, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Aber, Greg — Corvion, INC.
- Study coordinator: Aber, Greg
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Pediatric Heart Pump to Let Kids Go Home While Waiting for Transplant
A new ultra-low-power pediatric heart pump is being developed so children awaiting a heart transplant can go home or live with the device.
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Creating a fully implanted heart pump to help patients with heart failure
This study is testing a new heart pump that goes inside your body to help people with heart failure, making it safer and easier to live with than current options, so you can feel better while waiting for a heart transplant or recovering.
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.