HEART4KID is a groundbreaking project aimed at developing the first fully implantable artificial heart for children weighing 10–30 kg. The device will function as an intelligent biomechatronic organ capable of adapting its performance to the needs of a growing child, adjusting heart rate, stroke volume, and blood‑flow dynamics based on physiological signals. Thanks to wireless transcutaneous energy transfer, the PED‑TAH will not require percutaneous drivelines, significantly reducing infection risk and improving the quality of life for young patients.
Over the course of three years, the project will reach Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3/4 by advancing key technologies such as biosensors, biomaterials, embedded control electronics, and autoregulation systems. HEART4KID brings together expertise from multiple fields, including biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, soft robotics, and computational simulation.
The HEART4KID project is implemented by an interdisciplinary consortium of 11 partners from 6 countries: Lodz University of Technology (TUL, PL); Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital – Research Institute (PMMH-RI, PL); University of Reykjavik (RU, IS); University of Padua (UNIPD, IT); Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB, ES); Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona – Spanish National Research Council (ICMAB‑CSIC, ES); Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA, ES); Kaunas University of Technology (KTU, LT); Institute of Telecommunications (IT); Professor Zbigniew Religa Foundation of Cardiac Surgery Development (FRK, PL); Quantum Innovations (QI, PL).
The HEART4KID proposal has been submitted on 12 May 2026 under the EIC Pathfinder programme; however, the project has already attracted strong interest from multiple institutions, as reflected in the support letters attached below.
On 13 July 2026, a patent application entitled “Device Supporting Ventricular Function” was filed with the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland. The application was assigned patent application number P.456428 and the international reference WIPO ST 10/C PL456428.
The applicants are:
Lodz University of Technology, Lodz, Poland,
Institute “Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital – Research Institute”, Lodz, Poland,
University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
The invention relates to an implantable device that replaces the function of the natural heart by taking over the work of both ventricles and maintaining blood circulation throughout the patient's body. The invention concerns a fully implantable artificial heart intended for use in pediatric cardiac surgery. A key feature of the developed solution is its ability to adapt to the growth of a young patient. Thanks to its innovative design, the implantable artificial heart can “grow with the child,” reducing the need for additional surgical procedures associated with device replacement as the patient grows.
