Dr. Charles Taylor and Dr. Jacob King Invent an Electrocardiography Triggered Piston Pump, Securing a U.S. Patent, and Patent Extension, Advancing Cardiovascular Therapies
LAFAYETTE, LA, MARCH 2026 — The University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Dr. Charles Taylor, an expert in biomedical engineering and cardiovascular modeling, and Dr. Jacob King, a Professor of Practice in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, have invented a cutting-edge Electrocardiography Triggered Piston Pump that activates with the natural rhythm of a heart, rather than overriding it.
King explains, “The focus of this research is to improve patient care by providing additional treatment options for a more personalized approach. The impact of this device could affect broad patient populations by providing a patient-specific treatment delivery system, driven by the normal blood flow of the patient’s own heart.”
Taylor and King’s Electrocardiography Triggered Piston Pump offers a more personalized response to cardiovascular therapies. It is unique because rather than delivering blood through the body at a constant and unnatural rate, it synchronizes with the regular ebb and flow of bodily pressure changes. By working with the body’s natural blood pressure changes, this pump both enhances the body’s ability to respond to subtle shifts and improves how the cardiovascular system functions.
Director of UL Lafayette’s Office of Innovation Management, Chad Lacomb who oversees patents and production for the University’s emerging technologies adds, “We are excited to announce that the Electrocardiography Triggered Piston Pump received an extension on its patent life, and the University is eager to find a production partner to get it on the market.”
This technology’s programmable nature suggests a new era of medical devices that adjust in real time to individual patient’s needs. This holds promise for a future of safer and more effective medical interventions for a broad range of therapeutic interventions.
For More Information, Please Contact: Contact Chad LaComb at chad.lacomb@louisiana.edu
About Dr. Jacob King
Jacob King is a Professor of Practice in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he teaches introductory engineering design, kinematics of machines, and advanced fluid mechanics. Mr. King has extensive experience developing control systems for dynamic biomedical applications and he served as project manager for the Cajun Artificial Heart Laboratory.
Contact Jacob King at jacob.king@louisiana.edu
About Chad LaComb
Chad LaComb is a regional leader in innovation, economic development, and community impact with more than a decade of experience advancing major initiatives across Acadiana and Louisiana. He currently serves as Director of UL Lafayette’s Office of Innovation Management, overseeing technology transfer, intellectual property, research commercialization, and industry partnerships. His career includes significant roles in regional planning, broadband expansion, brownfields redevelopment, and major economic development projects, earning multiple national awards for innovation and community impact.
Contact Chad LaComb at chad.lacomb@louisiana.edu
About Dr. Charles Taylor
Dr. Charles Taylor is an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and an expert in biomedical engineering and cardiovascular systems. His work focuses on cardiovascular modeling, medical device safety, and the development and testing of advanced cardiovascular technologies, including prosthetic heart valves and ventricular assist devices. Through anatomical model generation, medical image segmentation, and device prototyping, Dr. Taylor’s research supports the safe and effective translation of biomedical innovations into clinical applications.
UL Lafayette Professors Earn Patent and Advance Cardiovascular Technology
Dr. Charles Taylor and Dr. Jacob King Invent an Electrocardiography Triggered Piston Pump, Securing a U.S. Patent, and Patent Extension, Advancing Cardiovascular Therapies
LAFAYETTE, LA, MARCH 2026 — The University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Dr. Charles Taylor, an expert in biomedical engineering and cardiovascular modeling, and Dr. Jacob King, a Professor of Practice in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, have invented a cutting-edge Electrocardiography Triggered Piston Pump that activates with the natural rhythm of a heart, rather than overriding it.
King explains, “The focus of this research is to improve patient care by providing additional treatment options for a more personalized approach. The impact of this device could affect broad patient populations by providing a patient-specific treatment delivery system, driven by the normal blood flow of the patient’s own heart.”
Taylor and King’s Electrocardiography Triggered Piston Pump offers a more personalized response to cardiovascular therapies. It is unique because rather than delivering blood through the body at a constant and unnatural rate, it synchronizes with the regular ebb and flow of bodily pressure changes. By working with the body’s natural blood pressure changes, this pump both enhances the body’s ability to respond to subtle shifts and improves how the cardiovascular system functions.
Director of UL Lafayette’s Office of Innovation Management, Chad Lacomb who oversees patents and production for the University’s emerging technologies adds, “We are excited to announce that the Electrocardiography Triggered Piston Pump received an extension on its patent life, and the University is eager to find a production partner to get it on the market.”
This technology’s programmable nature suggests a new era of medical devices that adjust in real time to individual patient’s needs. This holds promise for a future of safer and more effective medical interventions for a broad range of therapeutic interventions.
For More Information, Please Contact: Contact Chad LaComb at chad.lacomb@louisiana.edu
About Dr. Jacob King
Jacob King is a Professor of Practice in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he teaches introductory engineering design, kinematics of machines, and advanced fluid mechanics. Mr. King has extensive experience developing control systems for dynamic biomedical applications and he served as project manager for the Cajun Artificial Heart Laboratory.
Contact Jacob King at jacob.king@louisiana.edu
About Chad LaComb
Chad LaComb is a regional leader in innovation, economic development, and community impact with more than a decade of experience advancing major initiatives across Acadiana and Louisiana. He currently serves as Director of UL Lafayette’s Office of Innovation Management, overseeing technology transfer, intellectual property, research commercialization, and industry partnerships. His career includes significant roles in regional planning, broadband expansion, brownfields redevelopment, and major economic development projects, earning multiple national awards for innovation and community impact.
Contact Chad LaComb at chad.lacomb@louisiana.edu
About Dr. Charles Taylor
Dr. Charles Taylor is an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and an expert in biomedical engineering and cardiovascular systems. His work focuses on cardiovascular modeling, medical device safety, and the development and testing of advanced cardiovascular technologies, including prosthetic heart valves and ventricular assist devices. Through anatomical model generation, medical image segmentation, and device prototyping, Dr. Taylor’s research supports the safe and effective translation of biomedical innovations into clinical applications.
