Engineers at Monash University are developing a breakthrough heart pump designed specifically for patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The condition affects half of all people living with heart failure, but no mechanical treatment currently exists.
The innovation, emerging from the Monash-led Artificial Heart Frontiers Program (AHFP), aims to transform care for millions of patients who have been previously limited to medication or palliative approaches.
Unlike the more familiar form of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), HFpEF occurs when the heart muscle becomes stiff, restricting the heart’s ability to fill appropriately between beats even though its pumping function remains normal. Conventional heart pumps, known as ventricular assist devices, are often unsuitable for patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and can even cause harm due to the smaller and thicker structure of the HFpEF heart.
A new study, published in the Annals of Biomedical Engineering, proposes a reimagined pump design that could restore blood flow and reduce cardiac strain. The technology could act as a bridge to transplant, keeping patients alive while waiting for a donor heart, or potentially as a long-term support device for those without other options.
PhD candidate Nina Langer led the research from Monash’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, who developed a sophisticated cardiovascular simulator to test the performance of adapted devices under realistic conditions.
“This major heart failure condition has no dedicated mechanical circulatory support, leaving over half of all heart failure patients without an option,” Ms Langer said. “A dedicated pump could transform care for millions, offering a new lease on life for those currently left with few alternatives.”
Ms Langer’s study combines hands-on engineering with advanced computer modelling, the latter developed in collaboration with researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Together, the experimental and computational work is helping define the design parameters for the world’s first device purpose-built for HFpEF.
Her supervisor, Professor Shaun Gregory, Co-Director of the Artificial Heart Frontiers Program, said the findings help chart a new direction for cardiovascular device innovation. “Nina’s translational research captures the unmet need for targeted mechanical support for the largest group of heart-failure patients,” Professor Gregory said. “While we’ve known of this need for some time, this study points to a clear pathway for device development.”