At least one in every eight deaths in the U.S. is related to heart failure, according to the American Heart Association.

Often times, when patients have heart failure, their hearts cannot pump enough blood forward, so it backs up in the lungs, and fluid builds up, making the patient ill.

A new clinical trial device is looking to help prevent the patient from even getting to that point, through the help of CardioMEMS.

Tom Murray is one of hundreds of Nebraskans, who suffers from heart problems.

"I had a heart attack in 2003. They did a triple bypass, and then my heart stopped completely in 2004," said Murray.

Tom was fortunate enough to make it from his home in Pawnee City, to BryanLGH in Lincoln, in just enough time.

Tom then received a pacemaker.

"I got a bit better, then hit a point where I didn't seem to improve anymore," said Murray.

Tom is not alone. Many patients suffering from heart failure struggle with the daily inability of their heart to pump enough blood forward, which builds fluids up into their lungs.

For years, doctors like Steven Krueger at the BryanLGH Heart Institute, have been forced to "guess" whether or not the fluid needs to be reduced.

"If the fluid volumes get too low, it can be hard on the kidneys. When the fluid volumes get too high, they back up in the lungs, and make a patient short of breath, so keeping it exactly balanced is the problem," said Dr. Krueger.

Soon, that guess-work may no longer be needed, with the help of the CardioMEMS device.

It is a clinical trial that is helping cardiologists watch fluid levels on a daily basis.

"If we can see that coming, and act on those numbers early, we can prevent the decompositions, the patients becoming short of breath, having to go into the hospital, and endangering their lives. That's the idea behind the CardioMEMS device," said Dr. Krueger.

The device is not much larger than a penny.

Doctors implant the device through the groin, and place it between the heart and lungs of the patient.

Each day, the patient then sits in a chair, with a special pillow behind their back.

Through radio frequency energy, from the implanted device, to the antenna in the pillow, the information is sent to the doctor, who is able to keep an eye on their patient.

"We've known for quite a while now, at least the last 2 or 3 years, based on different research we did with an earlier device, that if we know what the pressures are inside the heart, we can tell when trouble is coming, before the patient even knows it. Not by an hour or two, but by 2 or 3 weeks. The pressures begin to go up 2 to 3 weeks before the patient realizes they don't feel well," said Dr. Krueger.

In Tom's case, he says the clinical device has already helped him feel better.

"I've done things in the last four months I haven't done for 2 years. It's simply amazing," said Murray.

CardioMEMS is in a trial stage right now.

BryanLGH is the only hospital in Nebraska participating in the study, along with a handful of other hospitals around the country.

Patients like Tom Murray, participating in the trial, have specific medication to take when their fluid levels get too high.

Because this is a clinical trial, Murray says he is unsure if he was given placebos, but he says he will find out within the next few months.