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The HeartGate project at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg enables the implantation of heart pumps without the use of a heart-lung machine / GO-Bio next funding supports medical device development through 2028

Six million people worldwide suffer from severe heart failure. For them, a pump that supports the heart may be the last remaining treatment option. However, implantation using a heart-lung machine has so far been a complex procedure. Scientists at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg (Medical Director Prof. Dr. Martin Czerny) have developed HeartGate, a procedure that allows this surgery to be performed without a heart-lung machine, potentially making it less invasive. The Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR) has now announced that it will provide 4.35 million euros in funding to further develop the procedure over the next three years.

The procedure was developed in the research group led by Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Bothe, Executive Senior Physician at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery. “Our goal is to simplify the implantation of heart pumps so that patients for whom the procedure was previously too risky can also be treated,” says Bothe. The BMFTR project is led by Dr. Florian Meißner and Manuela Schön.

“The BMFTR funding for this research project is intended to bring the procedure to market readiness so that it can directly benefit affected patients,” emphasizes Czerny.

Implanting a heart pump in a beating heart

Heart pumps, also known as cardiac assist devices, transport blood from the left ventricle into the aorta and thus into the systemic circulation. Until now, implantation has required major surgery involving opening the chest and using a heart-lung machine. The heart is stopped for the duration of the operation.

Minimally invasive procedure instead of major surgery

HeartGate is designed to significantly simplify this procedure, allowing it to be performed minimally invasively. The new system consists of a special punch and a blood-tight sheath, which together enable minimally invasive access to the heart—without stopping the heart. This makes the procedure shorter and less stressful. The method could open up a new treatment option, particularly for older patients or those with pre-existing conditions. Initial prototypes have already been successfully tested in preclinical trials.

"HeartGate exemplifies patient-centered medical innovations and successful translation from Freiburg. The procedure has the potential to significantly simplify a surgical procedure. The federal government’s funding of 4.35 million euros reinforces our commitment to advancing research in a way that benefits patients as quickly as possible,” says Prof. Dr. Frederik Wenz, Chief Medical Officer of the Medical Center – University of Freiburg.

From idea to medical device

The BMFTR grant of 4.35 million euros is part of the GO-Bio next program, which supports research projects with high application potential in their transition to clinical practice.