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Interviews Concerning Innovations

Medical Design: “Aesthetics Is Not Everything“

( Source: MEDICA.de )

[08/04/2010] Coco Chanel, Calvin Klein, Karl Lagerfeld – they all cause a big stir in the fashion world. Design is also a topic in medical science. Here, it’s not just the visual appearance that counts. In medical design, it’s primarily about ergonomics of equipment and more safety for the patient. Medical Design: “Aesthetics Is Not Everything“ - read more

Disinfection: “Plasma Makes Bacteria Cell Walls Burst“

( Source: MEDICA.de )

[22/03/2010] Never wash without using soap – this is a slogan that surgeons should keep in mind at work. Hygiene of the future may look quite differently though, according to recent physicist’s findings. Disinfection: “Plasma Makes Bacteria Cell Walls Burst“ - read more

Prostheses: „Further Optimising the Natural Motion Sequence“

( Source: MEDICA.de )

[08/01/2010] Today serious sport and disability do not exclude themselves anymore. Athletes with prostheses can achieve quite similar results in competitions as their colleagues without artificial bodily parts – thanks to modern technology. However, in future prostheses could do even more. Prostheses: „Further Optimising the Natural Motion Sequence“ - read more

Organ Care System: „A Cost-Benefit Analysis Has Not Been Prepared Yet”

( Source: MEDICA.de )

[22/09/2009] If one needs a goldfish for its aquarium, one needs a plastic bag full of water for transport. This is similar to the medical procedure involved when heart, kidney or liver from organ donors need to get to the intensive care patient. However, there is one serious problem limiting transport: the time. Organ Care System: „A Cost-Benefit Analysis Has Not Been Prepared Yet” - read more

Surgical Robots: „It Is the Extension of the Surgeon”

( Source: MEDICA.de )

[22/06/2009] Robotic minimally invasive surgery slowly captures our operating theatres. Originally developed by the U.S. Army to operate on war victims from afar, they might be increasingly used in thoracic surgery, urology and gynaecology as they promise more precision. Surgical Robots: „It Is the Extension of the Surgeon” - read more

Micro-Bonding: "It Is just not Possible to Use Screws on the Micro-Level"

( Source: MEDICA.de )

[22/04/2009] Everything is getting ever smaller. But how can experts still join those tiniest parts together? A special field offers a solution - micro-bonding. Micro-Bonding: "It Is just not Possible to Use Screws on the Micro-Level" - read more

Neuroprosthetics: „There Is no Need to Outline any Horror Scenarios“

( Source: MEDICA.de )

[08/01/2009] Juice in the head: Neuroprosthetics which are connected to nerve endings in the brain electrically stimulate certain brain regions. Thus, the implants are supposed to reduce the effects of Parkinson’s or to help with depressions or the Tourette syndrome. Nevertheless, many people feel uneasy about the idea that a machine perches in their head possibly influencing their behaviour. Neuroprosthetics: „There Is no Need to Outline any Horror Scenarios“ - read more

Contest for Innovations: „We Want to Achieve Something on the Market “

( Source: MEDICA.de )

[08/12/2008] Growing markets, more and more jobs – these are just two attributes describing medical technology. Making sure that the situation remains like this, the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) supports the innovation potential of the sector with a special competition that honors the winners with an award for innovation. Contest for Innovations: „We Want to Achieve Something on the Market “ - read more

RFID: „The Patient Must Remain in Charge of Its Data“

( Source: MEDICA.de )

[08/10/2008] A chip - hanging down from the wrist or being inserted in the arm – contains data related to the person or its medical history. This sounds like a futuristic vision but some hospitals in the USA have made it come true. The intention: a better treatment for the patients and more efficient localisation of doctors. In Europe, RFID and health care are connected only in research projects so far. RFID: „The Patient Must Remain in Charge of Its Data“ - read more

Soccer Fever: "There Are More Heart Attacks Due to Stress“

( Source: MEDICA.de )

[22/06/2010] A game lasts 90 minutes, a cardiac infarction mere seconds. The Soccer World Cup is the marriage of frenzied enthusiasm and great emotions, during barbecues and public parties. With increasing happiness and tension, unfortunately also the number of cardiac incidents increases. During the World Cup 2006, on some match days, there were three times as many suspicious cases for acute heart attacks. Soccer Fever: "There Are More Heart Attacks Due to Stress“ - read more

Rapid Test: “Strep Can Be Found All Over the World“

( Source: MEDICA.de )

[08/09/2010] They cannot be seen with the naked eye and yet we are surrounded by them every day: Germs like strep can make us sick – urinary tract infections, tonsillitis or meningitis – and without antibiotics you can often not tackle them. Scientists have tried for many years to find effective vaccines against these germs. Rapid Test: “Strep Can Be Found All Over the World“ - read more

Robust Design: “It Is Really Exciting“

( Source: MEDICA.de )

[08/11/2010] Computer simulations are indispensable in many industry sectors. The advantage is obvious: Before a part goes into production, it can already be thoroughly “put through its paces”. Defects are noticed much faster and production can be adapted at any time. Robust Design: “It Is Really Exciting“ - read more

Men’s Health: “Men Are Genetically the Weaker Sex“

( Source: MEDICA.de )

[22/12/2010] Men are masters in pushing their health issues aside. They often feel far too physically fit and healthy to schedule a check-up with a doctor. The male assessment - as positive as it may seem- has very little to do with reality. In fact, lifestyle still defines a man‘s identity. It is considered uncool to go to preventative medical check-ups or admit to physical ailments. Men’s Health: “Men Are Genetically the Weaker Sex“ - read more

Food Intolerance: “Interdisciplinary Collaboration Is Very Important“

( Source: MEDICA.de )

[08/02/2011] Goose legs with red cabbage, fish curry, French fries with ketchup and mayonnaise, chocolate cake, ice-cream – the list of scrumptious dishes could practically be endless. Meals and the foods they are made off make up a large part of our life and our culture. Ultimately, we need to eat to stay healthy and strong. Food Intolerance: “Interdisciplinary Collaboration Is Very Important“ - read more

Awareness: “The risk varies depending on the research“

( Source: MEDICA.de )

[08/03/2011] As a patient about to go under general anesthesia for surgery, you are understandably nervous. Although complications in anesthetics have become rare, patients still fear two things in particular – to not wake up again after the surgery or to wake up during the surgery, respectively. The latter phenomenon is called awareness or also intra-operative awareness. Awareness: “The risk varies depending on the research“ - read more

Health Congress: “Patients experience innovation in different ways“

( Source: MEDICA.de )

[08/04/2011] What does innovation mean to patients and are medical innovations actually well received by patients? At the trade show Gesundheitskongress des Westens (The Western Health Congress) on March 15, 2011 in Essen Germany, MEDICA.de spoke with consumerist Wolfgang Schuldzinski. Health Congress: “Patients experience innovation in different ways“ - read more

Broken Heart Syndrome: "We do not know what happens locally at the heart"

( Source: MEDICA.de )

[22/05/2011] When the heart literally breaks and a relationship is ending, it’s usually a painful experience for the people involved. Similar experiences, though they are less attributed to lovesickness, but rather to a traumatic shock, the death of a beloved person or extreme stress are the ingredients for a life-threatening cocktail. Broken Heart Syndrome: "We do not know what happens locally at the heart" - read more

Cell cultivation: “You might describe it as gymnastics for cells“

( Source: MEDICA.de )

[22/06/2011] The cells of our body work within a three-dimensional environment. But under laboratory conditions, experiments are often still performed in Petri dishes, which provide a 2D environment. Cell cultivation: “You might describe it as gymnastics for cells“ - read more

German Center for Heart Failure: "Research has to be interdisciplinary"

( Source: MEDICA.de )

[08/07/2011] The number of heart failure disease has increased for years. Drugs and a change in lifestyle can help the affected person, but a cure is still not in sight. That’s why it is all the more important to research the origins of heart disease as well as develop suitable strategies for prevention. These are some of the objectives the German Center for Heart Failure has committed itself to. German Center for Heart Failure: "Research has to be interdisciplinary" - read more

Robot-assistance: “The procedure is minimally traumatic“

( Source: MEDICA.de )

[22/07/2011] The da Vinci Surgical System revolutionizes the job in the operating room. For several months, surgeons at the RWTH Aachen University have worked with the da Vinci Surgical System. Here, the surgeon no longer stands alongside the patient, but instead works at a console from which he operates the surgical instruments inside the patient. Robot-assistance: “The procedure is minimally traumatic“ - read more

Personalised Cancer Therapies: "Currently things progress in major steps"

( Source: MEDICA.de )

[22/08/2011] The goal of personalised medicine is to be able to provide an individual disease forecast and to implement an accurate and fast treatment. Today new genetic and molecular findings, as well as the analysis of individual patient characteristics, already make first conclusions on the individual course of disease possible. Personalised Cancer Therapies: "Currently things progress in major steps" - read more

Tropical Medicine: “You must not underestimate the capability of these viruses“

( Source: MEDICA.de )

[22/10/2011] Tropical diseases used to appear almost exclusively in remote countries – hence the name. The mosquito bite was annoying, but nevertheless harmless in European regions. But the flying pests keep spreading and spreading. And they carry tiny, but dangerous pathogens. Scientists now found out that these viruses are now settling down in Europe. They are called Sindbis, Batai or Usutu. Tropical Medicine: “You must not underestimate the capability of these viruses“ - read more

Epilepsy research in the brains of mice: “The cell activity can be modulated as desired“

( Source: MEDICA.de )

[08/11/2011] What exactly happens in the brain during an epileptic seizure? And can this knowledge help in finding better therapies for patients in the future? Epilepsy research in the brains of mice: “The cell activity can be modulated as desired“ - read more

Rehabilitation at Home: “The System Is to Enable Patients to Do Rehab Exercises at Home”

( Source: MEDICA.de )

[09/01/2012] MEDICA.de talked to Professor Didier Stricker of the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) and leader of the project about delighted physiotherapists, motivated patients and the advantage towards simple interactive sports games on the computer. Rehabilitation at Home: “The System Is to Enable Patients to Do Rehab Exercises at Home” - read more

From Nanosensors to Cytotoxicity Test: ”We can reduce the number of animal experiments“

( Source: MEDICA.de )

[22/02/2012] Animal experiments are a part of everyday life in medical research, yet they have been the subject of criticism for decades. Even though scientists all over the world are searching for alternative methods, the complexity of physical processes in the human body however makes this very difficult. From Nanosensors to Cytotoxicity Test: ”We can reduce the number of animal experiments“ - read more

Sensor-Chip for Tumour-Monitoring: "Changes can be well detected"

( Source: MEDICA.de )

[08/03/2012] For cancer patients, chip implants could play an important role in the future - especially, when it comes to difficult to operate tumours. The chip technology will help doctors to monitor the tumour, because it measures the oxygen content in the tissue fluid. Once the oxygen level drops, the tumour threatens to accelerate its growth. Sensor-Chip for Tumour-Monitoring: "Changes can be well detected" - read more

Unique Device Identification: "Global interconnectedness makes uniform traceability systems necessary"

( Source: MEDICA.de )

[23/04/2012] In order to design safety standards and traceability of medical devices more professionally in the future, international committees are currently working on a new identification system that could apply worldwide in the future. In doing so, products could be identified during their entire life cycle. Unique Device Identification: "Global interconnectedness makes uniform traceability systems necessary" - read more

Drugs Ferry: ”We are not limited to one active ingredient group or one active ingredient“

( Source: MEDICA.de )

[08/05/2012] Drugs that treat brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease or multiple sclerosis are most effective directly where they are needed – in the brain. Unfortunately, it is difficult to develop drugs that are capable of getting there specifically, since the so-called blood-brain barrier prevents this from happening. However, now a team led by Doctor Heiko Manninga succeeded in doing precisely that. Drugs Ferry: ”We are not limited to one active ingredient group or one active ingredient“ - read more