Who Are We

Our team is designing and building a Total Artificial Heart (TAH) for the International Society for Mechanical Circulatory Support (ISMCS) Heart Hackathon Competition. Since forming in March 2026, more than 70 undergraduate students have come together to tackle one of the most challenging problems in medical device engineering. Working alongside faculty advisors, physicians and industry mentors, our members gain hands-on experience while contributing to a project with the potential to improve cardiovascular care. Through Pulse Project, UC Irvine’s first student-led Project Team under the BME Department, we are working to contribute to the future of this life-saving technology.

Pulse Project’s 2026 team at UC Irvine

Why Your Support Matters

Heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and for patients with end-stage heart failure, treatment options are often limited. While heart transplantation remains the gold standard, the shortage of donor organs leaves thousands of patients waiting each year. Total Artificial Hearts have the potential to bridge patients to transplant or provide long-term circulatory support, offering hope to those with few remaining treatment options.

This year, we began designing our first Total Artificial Heart using an axial flow pump, a technology previously used by companies such as BiVACOR, Abbott and Johnson & Johnson. We selected this design because it offers an effective balance of controllable blood flow, compact size and mechanical simplicity while providing the space needed to integrate the electronics and control systems required for safe and reliable operation. Alongside the engineering process, we research blood compatibility, biomaterials and emerging technologies to better understand the challenges facing patients with advanced heart failure. This patient-centered approach guides our work as we strive to create a device that is not only functional and reliable but also designed to improve quality of life.

ZotBeat 1 Axial Flow Pump Inner Tubing

In October 2026, Pulse Project will present its Total Artificial Heart prototype at the ISMCS Heart Hackathon Grand Finals, representing UC Irvine on an international stage in Suzhou, China. While the competition is an important milestone, our vision extends far beyond a single event. We are building a lasting organization where students collaborate across disciplines, tackle real-world engineering challenges and help shape the future of cardiovascular care.

Every donation directly supports student learning and innovation. Contributions help fund prototype materials, electronic components, manufacturing, testing equipment, software, research supplies and competition expenses. More importantly, your support gives undergraduate students the opportunity to gain the kind of hands-on experience that prepares them to become the next generation of engineers, researchers, physicians and MedTech leaders. We hope you’ll join us in bringing this vision to life and making a lasting impact on both future engineers and the patients they aspire to serve. 

Connect With Us

Check out our website, follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn or reach out to us directly via email at pulseproject.irvine@gmail.com.