Turning heart energy into power for leadless heart pacemakers
Official title: Harnessing the cardiac energy to power leadless intracardiac pacemakers
Funded at New Jersey Institute of Technology · NIH-11361798 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new approach aims to harvest energy from the heartbeat to power small leadless pacemakers, reducing the need for frequent battery changes in people with heart rhythm problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New Jersey Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2026 |
| Project end | February 28, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $718,678 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL181427-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11361798 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with heart block or ventricular dysrhythmias who rely on leadless intracardiac pacemakers.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without leadless pacemakers or those not eligible for energy-harvesting integration may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project seeks to create a self-sustaining energy source that can be integrated with current leadless pacemakers. Researchers will design nano-scale materials and clever structures that convert the heart’s beating motion into electrical power. The goal is to extend device life so patients experience fewer procedures and better long-term heart rhythm support. The work combines engineering with translational aims to move from lab ideas toward clinically usable energy harvesting for devices already implanted in patients. If successful, this could lessen healthcare burdens and improve quality of life for people with heart block and related conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from longer-lasting pacemakers with fewer replacement procedures.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show promise in energy harvesting concepts, but this work aims for direct clinical translation with pacemaker compatibility.
Where this research is happening
-
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dong, Lin — New Jersey Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Dong, Lin
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.