where the heart doesn't pump blood properly - there's often a long wait for a donor organ and limited tools to help keep them alive during this time, according to Choon-Sik Jhun, associate professor of surgery at Penn State College of Medicine. Currently, there are no heart pumps approved for long-term use in pediatric patients between the ages of one and 11 years old. Now, a team of researchers at Penn State, led by Jhun, aims to change that.
With a four-year, $3.2 million grant from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the team will develop a small, durable ventricular assist device (VAD) designed specifically for young, growing children. The device, called the PSU Child VAD, could provide long-term support for children with heart failure while waiting for a heart transplant, greatly improving quality of life and outcomes.
"This is a continuation of Penn State's legacy and work in the research and development of heart pumps," said Jhun, who is the principal investigator on the grant. "The combination of age-specific sizing, high-flow capability, improved material and design that's compatible with the body and a clear path toward a fully implantable system sets this project apart from previous attempts to develop a pediatric pump."
