Pulse Project brings together 70 undergraduate students from diverse disciplines who share a common goal: designing and building a Total Artificial Heart for the International Society for Mechanical Circulatory Support (ISMCS) Heart Hackathon Competition. Our mission is to advance the future of cardiovascular care by developing a device that could one day serve as a bridge to heart transplantation or a long-term solution for patients with end-stage heart failure. At the same time, we are creating an environment where students gain real, hands-on experience in medical device design, engineering, research, and innovation. By working alongside faculty, physicians, and industry mentors, our members develop the technical and professional skills needed to become the next generation of leaders in medicine and technology.
Pulse Project
Summary
Current Work / Recent Updates
Since forming in March 2026, Pulse Project has made significant progress toward designing a Total Artificial Heart for the ISMCS Heart Hackathon Competition. Over the past several months, our team has established the foundation of the project by defining engineering and clinical design requirements, selecting an axial flow pump architecture, and using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to optimize blood flow and pressure generation before moving into physical prototyping. We are also developing a mock circulation loop that will allow us to experimentally evaluate pump performance and validate our designs under realistic conditions.
Our electrical team is building the systems that will power and control the device, including a transcutaneous energy transfer (TET) system for wireless power delivery, a custom brushless DC motor, and embedded control algorithms that use real-time sensor feedback to regulate pump performance. At the same time, our research team is investigating biomaterials and surface coatings to improve blood compatibility, reduce thrombosis, and explore new methods for continuous hemolysis monitoring to enhance the long-term safety of the device.
In parallel, our business team is laying the foundation for the project's long-term success by leading marketing and outreach initiatives, developing partnerships and sponsorships, conducting market landscape and competitive analyses, and evaluating regulatory and intellectual property pathways. Together, these efforts ensure that our engineering decisions are supported by a clear understanding of the clinical, commercial, and regulatory landscape.
As we continue into the next phase of development, our focus is on testing, refining, and integrating these systems into a functional Total Artificial Heart prototype. In October 2026, our team will present our prototype at the ISMCS Heart Hackathon Grand Finals, showcasing months of engineering, research, and collaboration on an international stage alongside leading student teams from around the world.
Team Structure
Mechanical Team
The Mechanical Team is responsible for the overall design and development of the Total Artificial Heart. Members design, analyze, and test the mechanical systems that generate blood flow while ensuring the device meets performance, size, and reliability requirements.
Subteams:
- CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics): Uses fluid simulations to optimize pump geometry, blood flow, and pressure generation before physical prototyping.
- Mock Circulatory Loop: Designs and builds a testing platform that replicates the human circulatory system to evaluate pump performance under realistic conditions.
- Novelty: Researches innovative mechanical concepts and explores new design approaches to improve device performance and functionality.
- Electrical Integration: Works closely with the Electrical Team to ensure seamless integration of motors, sensors, and wiring into the mechanical design.
- Housing: Designs the structural enclosure and internal layout of the device, balancing manufacturability, durability, and compactness.
Electrical Team
The Electrical Team develops the systems that power, control, and monitor the Total Artificial Heart.
Subteams:
- Controls & Algorithms: Develops the embedded software and control systems that regulate pump performance using real-time sensor feedback.
- Power System: Designs the device's power architecture, including wireless transcutaneous energy transfer (TET), battery integration, and power management.
- Motor: Designs, tests, and characterizes the brushless DC motor that drives the axial flow pump.
Research Team
The Research Team provides the scientific foundation for the project by investigating cardiovascular physiology, biomaterials, blood compatibility, device safety, and emerging technologies. Their work guides engineering decisions and helps ensure the device is supported by current scientific literature and clinical needs.
Business Team
The Business Team supports the long-term success and sustainability of Pulse Project by developing the strategy needed to bring an innovative medical device from concept to real-world impact. In addition to leading the team's outreach efforts, members explore the commercial, regulatory, and intellectual property landscape to ensure our engineering decisions are supported by a strong business foundation.
Subteams:
- Marketing: Develops the team's brand, manages social media and website content, and communicates the project's mission to students, sponsors, and the public.
- Outreach & Sponsorship: Builds relationships with industry partners, secures sponsorships, organizes events, and supports fundraising efforts that make the project possible.