BOSTON -- When the heart becomes weak, there are drugs, surgeries and implanted devices that can help. But the implanted device cannot be used in 60 percent of the women who need it.

NewsCenter 5's Heather Unruh reported that researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital say there is hope that a new device could potentially save tens of thousands of lives.

Ventricle assist devices, or VADs, are electronic pumps that are surgically implanted to help the sickest of hearts -- usually in patients awaiting a heart transplant.

"The pump becomes surgically part of the circulation. We sew it into the heart and into the big artery that comes out of the heart, and it can take over the work of pumping the blood around the body," said Dr. Tom MacGillivray, of Mass General.

The smaller version of the VAD, called the HeartMate II, weighs less than one pound and is being studied at Mass General. Researchers are hopeful it will help women in particular -- the 60 percent with heart failure who are not a candidate for a traditional VAD.

"Women tend to be smaller than men and that has limited our ability to plant the bigger ventricular assist devices. With this smaller device, the opportunity to help more women is better than ever," said MacGillivray.

A massive heart attack in May left Emma Morgan's heart weak. She's the third person to receive the new implant. She hooks her VAD up to a power unit when she can, but also can use 4-hour batteries to power the device.

"I feel grateful," she said. "(I can) go back home and be with my grandchildren and my husband."

The national study will enroll 300 heart failure patients with some using the device while they await a heart transplant and others using it as a way of treating their heart failure permanently.

"It will get them back to work, back to their home, get them back into lifestyles that allow them to exercise and be safe and well," said MacGillivray.

"Now they have an alternative they didn't have before. Just like Mama got here. That's beautiful. Brings tears to my eyes," said Morgan's husband, Tom.

Initial studies on the HeartMate II did show one major benefit -- there was less chance of infection than with the larger device.

Doctors believe the newer implant may also last longer -- up to five years before it needs to be replaced.