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A man holds a Huawei smartwatch in his hand at a stand at the MEDICA medical technology trade fair; copyright: beta-web GmbH / Messe Düsseldorf

Smart health monitoring for your pocket with Huawei

14/11/2024

At MEDICA 2024, Huawei shows how modern blood pressure measurement can work in everyday life. A medically certified smartwatch enables accurate and user-friendly health monitoring that is ideal for continuous use in everyday life.
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A driver sits in a modern car, above the dashboard is a screen with a graph on it; copyright: beta-web Gmbh/Messe Düsseldorf

The future of safe driving: Automotive Health at MEDICA 2024

12/11/2024

Visitors of MEDICA 2024 can experience the latest technologies for promoting driving safety and health in Hall 12.
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Image: Example illustration of the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion test; Copyright: UZH

UZH

AI supports the detection of antibiotic resistance

31/10/2024

A pilot study at the University of Zurich is the first to demonstrate the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in identifying antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Researchers used the GPT-4 model to support the diagnostic process in the laboratory and thus relieve the burden on medical professionals in the fight against increasing antibiotic resistance worldwide.
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DGKL

AI improves leukemia diagnostics: award for Dresden researchers

10/10/2024

Dr. Jan Middeke and Dr. Jan-Niklas Eckardt from Dresden University Hospital have received an award from the German Society for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (DGKL) for their work on improving leukaemia diagnostics using artificial intelligence (AI). The award, worth 15,000 euros, recognizes their research into AI-assisted detection of leukaemia in the bone marrow.
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Image: Tablet lying on a table, a person in a doctor's coat reaches for the tablet with both hands

AI: New testing framework to ensure the quality of training data

24/09/2024

A testing framework has been developed at Germany’s national metrology institute, the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), to ensure the quality of training data for medical AI applications. The framework, as well as a tool for the automated testing of algorithms, will be available to all developers.
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The Virtual Patient Avatar: All vital signs at a glance

10/09/2024

The Virtual Patient Avatar from Philips is being used for the first time at the Neurocenter at Bonn University Hospital. It displays patients' vital signs in a simplified way using colors, shapes and animations.
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Image: Robots interacting with people in a room; Copyright: University of Stuttgart, Institute for Artifical Intelligence

University of Stuttgart, Institute for Artifical Intelligence

Robotics Institute Germany: Progress through AI-based robotics

29/08/2024

The newly founded Robotics Institute Germany (RIG) has started its work. The aim of the consortium, led by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), is to establish Germany as the world's leading location for AI-based robotics. The project is being funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research with 20 million euros.
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Image: A hand holds a cell phone with a health application open

FAQ: Interesting facts about DiGA development for providers

18/07/2024

In Germany, digital health applications (DiGA) are an important part of modern medicine. In addition to mobile apps, these also include web-based applications, software for medical devices, telemedicine platforms, VR applications and wearable sensors. It is important that they support, improve or enable healthcare through the use of digital technologies.
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Empathic incubator: almost like in the womb

16/07/2024

Premature babies lying in incubators in intensive care units are often heavily wired. Researchers are striving to make this environment more comfortable for everyone involved, in particular by wirelessly monitoring the heart and breathing. The aim is to optimize neonatal intensive care by studying and improving the baby's sensory experience.
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Image: The monitoring patch next to a 25-cent coin for scale.; Copyright: University of Waterloo

University of Waterloo

Monitoring of critical health data with wearable patch

11/07/2024

Researchers at McMaster University and the University of Waterloo have developed a pain-free, wearable patch that continuously monitors blood glucose, lactates, and other critical health indicators, sending results to a smartphone. This new wearable device could transform health monitoring and improve patient care.
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Image: Simplified model of the low-field magnetic resonance tomograph; Copyright: Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics

Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics

Cost-efficient MRI diagnostics for the Global South

10/07/2024

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics have developed a new method for cost-efficient medical imaging. This method combines low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with hyperpolarization and artificial intelligence to improve image quality.
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Image: endoscopic instrument is being prepared for a gastroscopy

AI supports diagnostics during gastroscopies

04/07/2024

A Czech-Bavarian research team is developing an artificial intelligence (AI) for gastroscopy to support doctors in the diagnostic process. The "GI-Insight" project is being led by Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg and Charles University in Prague and aims to increase the precision and safety of gastroscopies.
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Image: Person walking on a perturbation treadmill in a gait laboratory; Copyright: Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Hearables: The new health centers on the ear

04/07/2024

Over the next five years, researchers from the Universities of Oldenburg and Bremen want to investigate what additional tasks hearing aids can take on as part of the HEARAZ (Hearable-centered Assistance: From Sensor to Participation) research training group.
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Image: Two women in specialist medical clothing operate a mammography system; Copyright: lakobchuk

lakobchuk

Mammography: Transpara supports early breast cancer detection with AI

02/07/2024

The introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) into medical diagnostics has brought about transformative changes, particularly in the early detection of breast cancer. One innovative solution: Transpara.
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HITS

Digital Twins: Transforming Infant Healthcare with Advanced Metabolic Models

26/06/2024

Researchers at University of Galway and Heidelberg University have developed advanced digital baby models to enhance the understanding of infant metabolism and improve healthcare outcomes. These sex-specific, whole-body computational models simulate the metabolic processes of infants, paving the way for personalized medicine and better diagnosis and treatment of early-life medical conditions.
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Image: Researchers are testing the tactile Internet with a robot arm.

Andreas Heddergott / TUM

Transmitting the sense of touch over the internet: new HCTI standard

25/06/2024

The Technical University of Munich (TUM), in collaboration with an international consortium, has released the "Haptic Codecs for the Tactile Internet" (HCTI) standard after eight years of work. This standard enables the transmission of the sense of touch over the Internet, similar to JPEG for images or MP3 for audio.
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Image: A doctor performs a training operation with the help of AI, wearing a special cap and vest with sensors; Copyright: MEDICA

Artificial intelligence: the new member of the surgical team

19/06/2024

In the "Digital Scrubs" project, researchers from medicine, IT and industry are working on improving working conditions for surgeons by visualizing the operating team's alertness and signs of stress in real time. For this, artificial intelligence and biometric sensors are being used in the operating room.
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Image: Woman working on a computer with data and support from an AI

Supporting nursing staff: AI in long-term care

13/06/2024

Inpatient care in Germany is facing major challenges. According to Statista, the number of people in need of care will increase by 50 percent by 2030, while the supply of nursing staff is expected to continue to decrease.
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Image: A female scientist with a tablet computer in her hand sits at a workbench in a laboratory – use of AI in the lab; Copyright: YuriArcursPeopleImages

YuriArcursPeopleImages

Artificial intelligence in the laboratory: current developments and applications

28/05/2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an integral part of modern laboratories. AI systems based on machine learning and algorithmic analysis are used in various scientific and medical disciplines to automate processes, increase efficiency, and gain new scientific insights.
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Photo: an artificial parrot; Copyright: beta-web | Messe Düsseldorf

AI assistants enhancing patient care

13/05/2024

Chatbots are already integrated into many areas of our daily lives. Could what is already being used for customer inquiries for insurance companies and the like also work in a medical context?
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Image: Woman holding a cell phone in her hand in front of her face and speaking into it

AI recognizing heart failure through voice analysis

21/03/2024

In the future, artificial intelligence will monitor patients with advanced heart failure telemedically by the sound of their voice. This will make it possible to detect and treat deterioration at an early stage. The Berlin start-up Noah Labs UG has developed the AI required for this.
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Image: This photo shows four doctors in blue clothes, treating a patient in a place outside in Sudan. Only visual protection walls contribute to a little of privacy; Copyright: Boris Hegger / ICRC

Boris Hegger / ICRC

Optimizing humanitarian logistics enhancing medical supply distribution

22/02/2024

Amid global conflicts, accessing medical supplies is vital. The ICRC, dedicated to aiding millions affected, grapples with complex distribution challenges. Teaming up with ETH Zurich, they've devised new logistics solutions for efficient and timely supply delivery to crisis zones.
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Image: A smart bracelet worn on a person’s arm; Copyright: Kaunas University of Technology (KTU)

Kaunas University of Technology (KTU)

Monitoring Atrial Fibrillation with smart bracelet

30/01/2024

Atrial fibrillation, the most prevalent heart rhythm disorder impacting 33 million people worldwide, can have serious consequences if left untreated. To address this pressing issue, researchers have unveiled a technology aimed at identifying and managing individual factors contributing to atrial fibrillation.
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Pressmaster

Mindable: App support for anxiety disorders during the therapy waiting period

21/12/2023

People with an anxiety disorder often feel restricted in their everyday lives. However, even when they are at the point of wanting help, finding a therapy place involves a long wait. During this challenging time, the Mindable app can help.
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Image: Representation of an experimental hybrid OR at Fraunhofer IPA in Mannheim; Copyright: Fraunhofer IPA

Fraunhofer IPA

DAIOR research project: Distributed AI improves telesurgery

14/12/2023

In the DAIOR research project, doctors and technicians are working on the evaluation of surgical data from multimodal sources using artificial intelligence (AI). One of the project goals is to support robot-assisted telesurgery in real time.
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Image: Two women sitting next to each other looking at a tablet projecting a health record; Copyright: YuriArcursPeopleimages

YuriArcursPeopleimages

Artificial intelligence: Will an algorithm soon be writing doctors' letters?

11/12/2023

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems IAIS are currently developing a "doctor's letter generator" that could soon produce documents in the shortest possible time. With 150 million doctors' letters being written in Germany every year, this would save hospitals and medical practices an enormous amount of time.
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Image: Man with black hair and dark glasses in front of a green background, Prof. Dr. Aldo Faisal; Copyright: Universität Bayreuth

Universität Bayreuth

Kulmbach Live-in Lab: holistic research on digital health

07/12/2023

The possibilities for researching human behaviour with the help of artificial intelligence are being taken to the next level in Kulmbach: The Live-in Lab there is Europe's leading laboratory for digital, AI-supported research into human behaviour in everyday life. It has now been opened.
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Photo: a woman sits in front of a computer screen and looks at an MRI image; Copyright: beta-web | Messe Düsseldorf

Smart software for MRI examinations

06/12/2023

The start-up relios.vision GmbH has developed the SmartContrast software. Using artificial intelligence, it can reduce the dose of contrast agent used in MRI examinations of the brain by two thirds.
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Image: 3D simulation of an active material in a geometric shape resembling a dividing cell; Copyright: Singh et al. Physics of Fluids (2023) / MPI-CBG

Singh et al. Physics of Fluids (2023) / MPI-CBG

New computer code for mechanics of tissues and cells in three dimensions

28/11/2023

Open-source supercomputer algorithm predicts patterning and dynamics of living materials and enables studying their behavior in space and time.
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Image: Portrait photo of Stefanie Brückner. A woman with brown hair in a striped shirt; Copyright: Anja Stübner, EKFZ für Digitale Gesundheit

Anja Stübner, EKFZ für Digitale Gesundheit

Informed consent to the use of personal health data

22/11/2023

Millions of people worldwide use health and wellness applications to record health-related parameters such as symptoms, step count or heart rate in their everyday lives. This citizen-generated health data provides previously unknown information about a person's experience of illness and health.
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Image: Person in sportswear sitting on an empty grandstand and holding his aching knee; Copyright: wayhomestudio

wayhomestudio

Orthopy: knee injury app's DIGA approval

21/11/2023

Patient information, relief for practitioners, support for rehabilitation exercises at home: the "Orthopy for knee injuries" app has recently become available as a prescription app to support anterior cruciate ligament tears and meniscus damage therapy. The app is backed by a dedicated team that has seen through its demanding approval process.
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Image: A group photo consisting of eleven people in front of a white wall. A confirmation of project funding is held in the camera; Copyright: HIPS

HIPS

Strengthening of drug bioinformatics at the Saarbrücken site

21/11/2023

In the context of the tenure negotiations for Drug Bioinformatics Professor Olga Kalinina, the Klaus Faber Foundation is providing €100,000 to the "bioINFpro" project, thereby enabling her long-term stay at the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) and Saarland University.
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Two men in suits in an exhibition hall at MEDICA, one interviewing the other; copyright: beta-web | Messe Düsseldorf

Breath the spirit of MEDICA 2023 – Highlight tour with Director Christian Grosser

13/11/2023

Topics like artificial Intelligence, automation and robotics, and sustainability are shaking the medical industry – and both MEDICA and COMPAMED reflect that. We are walking through the trade show halls of MEDICA with Christian Grosser, Director Health & Medical Technologies at Messe Düsseldorf, to talk about this: What are his impressions of this year’s MEDICA and COMPAMED?
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Image: Duarte Dias explains the Agwearcare technology in the final event of the project. He stands in a room next to a dummy; Copyright: INESC TEC

INESC TEC

How can wearables help to protect farmers well-being

10/11/2023

The AgWearCare project resorts to wearables to collect and digitalise data, supporting agricultural tasks and preventing work-related musculoskeletal disorders.
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Image: The SmartID counterfeit-proof barcode system on a smartphone; Copyright: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft

MEDICA 2023: Checking for counterfeit medication using a smartphone

08/11/2023

The SmartID counterfeit-proof barcode system means anyone can use a smartphone to check a product is genuine, provided the manufacturer uses SmartID.
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Image: Background image of modern computer equipment with CT brain scans on screens at workplace; Copyright: seventyfourimages

seventyfourimages

MEDICA 2023: Simple and enhanced analysis and visualization of medical image data

08/11/2023

A team of researchers from Kaiserslautern and Leipzig is working on a system that automatically analyses and visualises medical data, including their uncertainties.
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Image: Icons of networks and contacts between people and groups on yellow and orange surfaces; Copyright: wirestock

wirestock

Collective intelligence can reduce medical misdiagnoses

30/10/2023

Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, the Institute for Cognitive Sciences and Technologies (ISTC), and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology developed a collective intelligence approach to increase the accuracy of medical diagnoses.
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Image: Elderly gentleman lies on CT scanner with his head to the camera; Copyright: imagesourcecurated

imagesourcecurated

Smarter CT scans may approach the level of MRI

20/10/2023

In certain cases, a new method can provide as much information from brain images taken with computed tomography (CT) as images captured with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
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Image: Two men stand in a server room and look into the camera equipped with a fisheye lens; Copyright: Linköping University

Linköping University

A step towards AI-based precision medicine

19/10/2023

Researchers at Linköping University in Sweden have developed an AI-based method applicable to various medical and biological issues. Their models can for instance accurately estimate people’s chronological age and determine whether they have been smokers or not.
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Image: Example of ChatGPT response; despite asking the ChatGPT the exact same questions about orthopedic symptoms, the ChatGPT offered different diagnoses on different days; Copyright: TMDU

Division of Medical Design Innovations, TMDU

Can ChatGPT diagnose a condition?

18/10/2023

A research group led by Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) finds that when common orthopedic symptoms are given, ChatGPT’s diagnosis and recommendations are inconsistent.
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Image: A man in a suit, Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Ahrens, posing in a bright hallway; Copyright: BIPS

BIPS

White paper: improving record linkage for health research

16/10/2023

In Germany, it is currently difficult to link health data from different sources. The Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS is now presenting a white paper on this topic.
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Image: Female doctor searches patient information from the medical records system using a computer; Copyright: Yulia_Panova

Yulia_Panova

ScPoli enables multi-scale representations of cells and samples

12/10/2023

Computer scientists at Helmholtz Munich developed a generative model named ScPoli that performs data integration of high-quality large-scale datasets of single cells.
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Image: Photo of a car interior. A man sits behind the wheel and operates a screen; Copyright: Fraunhofer IDMT/Anika Bödecker

IDMT/Anika Bödecker

Vital data: the whole body on the radar

05/10/2023

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology IDMT in Oldenburg have developed a new method for collecting and analyzing vital signs from the human body by using radar.
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Image: Dartmouth computer science professor Temiloluwa Prioleau holds a type of wearable glucose monitor that provided data for the study; Copyright: Photo courtesy of Temiloluwa Prioleau

Photo courtesy of Temiloluwa Prioleau

Wearable devices show who may need more help managing diabetes

29/09/2023

A new Dartmouth study in the journal Science Advances suggests that how well people with diabetes manage their blood sugar depends on their experience with the condition and their overall success in controlling their glucose levels, as well as on the season and time of day.
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Image: Doctor sits at a laptop and points at the screen with a pen; Copyright: paegagz

paegagz

Algorithm to predict disease relapses

29/09/2023

A University of Texas at Arlington research team has received a $450,000 grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences to use statistical machine learning to review patient data and better predict which patients will need additional treatments.
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Image: A group of Asian startups point to a whiteboard; Copyright: davidpradoperucha

davidpradoperucha

Cure Xchange Challenge: initiative to incubate innovations by healthcare start-ups

26/09/2023

Cure, a healthcare innovation campus in New York City, has opened applications for its Cure Xchange Challenge, a bold initiative to incubate innovations by healthcare start-ups and entrepreneurs across disciplines and sectors to responsibly and equitably use artificial intelligence (AI) in health.
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Image: A caregiver sits at a desk in the foreground and takes notes while another caregiver talks on the phone in the background; Copyright: DC_Studio

DC_Studio

Digitization in hospitals: not just an end in itself, but a transformer

21/09/2023

The course urgently needs to be charted to make healthcare secure for the future. The Asklepios Trend Report, which was published for the first time this summer, highlights the key developments that will shape our healthcare system for the foreseeable future. Digitalization plays a key role in this as confirmed by a patient study also commissioned by the group.
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Image: Symbolic image: Photo taken from the shoulder perspective of a woman holding a smartphone with a medical app in her hand; Copyright: Karin Kaiser/MHH

Karin Kaiser/MHH

MHH and simpleclub strengthen digital MFA training

13/09/2023

To make medical assistants (MFA) fit for the future, Hannover Medical School (MHH) is launching a digital training offensive: together with the learning platform simpleclub, it is digitizing this professional training.
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Image: A person sits in front of a laptop, a graphic representation of a head in cross-section as an AI is displayed above the laptop; Copyright: AndersonPiza

AndersonPiza

Danger from chatbots: Do they need regulation as a medical device?

12/09/2023

Chatbots like ChatGPT have great potential for medicine. But their unregulated use in healthcare poses a great danger because of their inherent risks. A Nature Medicine article by Prof. Stephen Gilbert et al. calls for medical device approval for chatbots and applications based on them.
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Image: The drawing of a liver on a white background; Copyright: Dt. Leberstiftung

Dt. Leberstiftung

Predicting severe liver disease with simple tools

08/09/2023

A European consortium with the participation of the MHH is developing a new tool to determine the individual risk of liver fibrosis and liver cancer.
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Image: Security architecture 2.0 blue diagram for telematics infrastructure; Copyright: Fraunhofer AISEC

Fraunhofer AISEC

Future-proof security architecture for healthcare communications

06/09/2023

Germany’s telematics infrastructure (TI) aims to allow healthcare professionals to exchange patient data securely, rapidly and from anywhere. The platform for healthcare applications will soon see a new security architecture. The aim is to make it easier to exchange data between all parties involved as well as to facilitate access to specialist services.
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Image: Illustration of a protein structure with its amino acid complexes; Copyright: Kateryna Maksymenko

Kateryna Maksymenko

Innovative computational approach helps design proteins for cancer treatment

31/08/2023

A joint team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen and the University Hospital Tübingen has now developed and tested a new computational method to greatly speed up the necessary energy calculations.
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Image: In the picture you can see a lotus leaf with water two hands in gloves and the product. ; Copyright: National University of Singapore

National University of Singapore

Nature-inspired pressure sensing technology aims to transform healthcare and surgical robots

22/08/2023

NUS researchers have developed 'eAir', an innovative pressure sensor inspired by the lotus leaf effect. This sensor could revolutionize minimally invasive surgeries by providing tactile feedback to surgeons and improve patient experiences in monitoring intracranial pressure. Its unique design enhances precision and reliability, potentially transforming various medical applications.
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Image: Doctor is looking through a data sheet on his desk; Copyright: duallogic

duallogic

AI will soon be able to write doctor’s letters

08/08/2023

Around 150 million doctor’s letters are written every year in Germany. This takes precious time which could be used elsewhere. The “doctor’s letter generator”, which is currently being developed by scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems IAIS, could provide a solution for creating the document in a fraction of the time.
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Image: A surgeon in the OR is sitting in front of the control console of a surguical robot, a screen in front of him; Copyright: Universitätsklinikum Bonn (UKB)/Johann Saba

University Hospital Bonn (UKB)/Johann Saba

OR robotics: flexible on-demand robotics with Dexter

08/08/2023

Surgical robotics is precise and reduces the workload of surgeons. However, it is not always as flexible as humans. Dexter, a surgical robot that recently received CE certification, could revolutionize how surgery is performed in certain cases. Not only is it smaller and less expensive than other systems, it also allows switching between robotics and laparoscopy.
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Image: Diagram of a color coordinate representation of the heart chambers; Copyright: Dr. Axel Loewe, KIT

Dr. Axel Loewe, KIT

Machine learning: artificial neural networks localize extrasystoles

03/08/2023

Researchers at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) use machine learning for the non-invasive localization of ventricular extrasystoles. This may facilitate and improve future diagnosis and therapy.
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Image: A doctor examines a patient's left shoulder for skin cancer; Copyright: Inside Creative House/Shutterstock

Inside Creative House/Shutterstock

Skin cancer diagnosis: reinforcement learning for improved performance of AI

02/08/2023

An international research team led by Harald Kittler of MedUni Vienna has now explored a learning method in which greater accuracy in AI results can be achieved by incorporating human decision-making criteria.
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Image: Illustration: A new Scripps Research machine-learning system tracks how epidemic viruses evolve; Copyright: Imagery created using BioRender.com.

Imagery created using BioRender.com.

AI-based tracking and early-warning system for viral pandemics

27/07/2023

Scripps Research scientists have developed a machine-learning system—a type of artificial intelligence (AI) application—that can track the detailed evolution of epidemic viruses and predict the emergence of viral variants with important new properties.
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Image: Young woman in medical mask with smartphone makes a selfie; Copyright: natalyaraeva

natalyaraeva

App helps with early detection of eye diseases causing blindness

21/07/2023

Two students on the Master's Degree in Bioinformatics and Biostatistics at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) have developed a mobile app capable of detecting in a matter of seconds whether someone is suffering from glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy or cataracts, three of the world's most common causes of vision loss and blindness.
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Image: Transparent image layering: A patient and her electronic patient file with key medical data; Copyright: Fraunhofer IGD

Fraunhofer IGD

Digital patient model: decision support for physicians and cost-saver

10/07/2023

New perspectives for the healthcare sector: The support system for decision-making developed as part of the MED²ICIN project should increase the treatment success rate. It supports physicians in their decision-making process by pooling all of the information on an individual patient and comparing this to that of cohorts made up of similar individuals.
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Image: Professional technician testing robotic bionic arm at prosthetic manufacturinge; Copyright: 1footage

1footage

Digitization, AI, robotics: how healthcare will change over the next 50 years

07/07/2023

A study by researchers at Mälardalen University (MDU) describes what our future healthcare industry may look like.
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Image: Prof. Stephen Gilbert, blond man in dark blue shirt, poses for the camera; Copyright: EKFZ/ A. Stübner

EKFZ/ A. Stübner

Chatbots like ChatGPT: approval as medical devices

06/07/2023

The new Nature Medicine paper by Prof. Stephen Gilbert, et. al. addresses one of the most pressing international issues of our time: How to regulate Large Language Models (LLMs) in general and specifically in health.
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Image: Patient and doctor are looking at and discussing the x-ray of a spine; Copyright: Pressmaster

Pressmaster

AI supports rehabilitation after spinal cord injury

05/07/2023

An intelligent suit is hoped to significantly improve rehabilitation after a serious spinal cord injury. The AI-supported solution will be developed over the next three years by researchers from Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) working in collaboration with Heidelberg University and Heidelberg University Hospital.
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Image: Preview picture of video

Increasing the time available for treatment in intensive care units: Smart assistance system "Mona" bundles data

30/06/2023

All information can be accessed directly where it is needed - at the hospital bedside. The intelligent assistance system "Mona" offers exactly that. With it, the start-up Clinomic is implementing what intensive care physicians and nursing staff want.
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Image: Portrait of a smiling senior woman shopping in the supermarket with a trolley; Copyright: lucigerma

lucigerma

Atrial fibrillation: supermarket trolleys set to help diagnosis

29/06/2023

It could be the shopping trip that saves your life: supermarket trolleys are helping to diagnose atrial fibrillation which can then be treated to prevent disabling or fatal strokes.
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Image: A female lab worker in protective clothing scans a barcode on a blood sample; Copyright: svitlanah

svitlanah

6G in healthcare: better wireless technology for better care

20/06/2023

While the 5G cellular technology standard is becoming more widespread in the public sector, development on its successor has already started. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has launched an initiative to lay the foundations for 6G. This communications technology can also be significant for the healthcare sector.
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Image: Device for scanning and diagnostic viewing of patients; Copyright: mstandret

mstandret

AI in eye scans: improved diagnosis of inherited disease of the retina

14/06/2023

Researchers from the UK and Germany have used artificial intelligence (AI) to develop a system that they believe will enable more widespread provision of testing, together with improved efficiency.
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Image: Schleswig-Holstein's Minister President Daniel Günther opened the

Staatskanzlei SH

AI from the universities in Kiel and San Francisco launched

14/06/2023

A delegation from the CAU and UKSH joined Schleswig-Holstein's Minister President Daniel Günther in opening the new infrastructure for AI in the USA in the night of 8 June 2023 (German time).
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Image: Humboldt-Prof. Dr. Jens Meiler and Dr. Clara T. Schoeder analyse protein structures in front of a big screen; Copyright: Swen Reichhold

Swen Reichhold

Infectious diseases: digital 'vaccine library' against pandemics

12/06/2023

The Institute for Drug Discovery led by Humboldt Professor Jens Meiler is to receive 1.9 million dollars (1.77 million euros) for the development of vaccines. The international Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) will fund computer-aided vaccine development at Leipzig University with the aim of building a digital ‘vaccine library’ of components and virtual antigen designs.
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Image: Dr. Matthias Gietzelt (left) and Professor Bavendiek in a cardiology examination room; Copyright: Karin Kaiser / MHH

Karin Kaiser / MHH

Cardiovascular diseases: individual risk assessment with ACRIBiS

08/06/2023

MHH Cardiology participates in a nationwide project to improve risk assessment thanks to structured and standardized data.
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Image: Nils Wagner, a man with brown hair in a T-shirt, sits at a computer screen on which codes are displayed; Copyright: Dennis Gankin / TUM

Dennis Gankin / TUM

Algorithm helps search for the cause of hereditary diseases

07/06/2023

A Munich research team has developed an algorithm that predicts the effects of genetic mutations on RNA formation six times more precisely than previous models.
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Image: Close-up: A 3D printed amber pill; Copyright: MPI-INF

MPI-INF

3D-printed pills with desired drug release

29/05/2023

A group of Computer Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Informatics in Saarbrücken, Germany, and the University of California at Davis, have invented a process that relies solely on the shape of the object for a time-controlled release.
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Image: Lecturer talks about new technologies and three people listen; Copyright: seventyfourimages

seventyfourimages

Increasing training and use of new digital technologies in EU health services

18/05/2023

The Dynamic Digital Resilience for Medical and Allied Professions (DDS-MAP) in Health Services project aims to strengthen health systems and support the digital transformation of healthcare by understanding the digital learning needs of healthcare professionals and developing innovative learning programmes.
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Image: Young woman sleeping in her bed wearing a smartwatch on the wrist; Copyright: KaikaTaaK

KaikaTaaK

Digital biomarkers: a new way to look at diseases?

15/05/2023

We usually use biomarkers from body tissue or blood to diagnose diseases and monitor their progression. This requires taking and analyzing samples from patients at regular points in time. Two new studies shed light on an easier and less expensive method: using wearable sensors to collect movement data and AI to analyze them.
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Image: Adolescent girl is wearing sensors on her back for motion tracking; Copyright: microgen

microgen

Soft orthotics: creating the perfect fit with a 3D scanner

08/05/2023

Soft textile orthoses are used in the treatment of certain medical conditions. Making these custom devices by hand is difficult, time-consuming, and susceptible to human error. A research project has developed a digital platform designed to simplify the production of soft orthoses.
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Image: child sitting at a table with his head on his arms while looking at papers on the table; Copyright: envato/Maria_Sbytova

envato/Maria_Sbytova

ADHD: Software supports diagnostic process

02/05/2023

To be diagnosed with ADHD, children must exhibit various factors and persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It can sometimes be difficult to diagnose the condition because younger children change and develop rapidly. New software makes it possible to combine and analyze different evaluations and test results to facilitate a more informed and accurate diagnosis.
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 Image: Person walking with his back to the camera on a treadmill in front of a monitor that analyzes and displays information on body posture; Copyright: Messe Düsseldorf

Messe Düsseldorf

3D Motion Analysis: Postural patterns in patients with hemophilia

27/04/2023

Usually, the solutions for monitoring heart failure are implantable and thus come with the risks of surgery. A research project has now developed a noninvasive solution based on sensor technology integrated into a wearable belt.
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Image: An example of virtual staining of tissue. Unstained tissue on the left, chemically stained tissue in the middle and virtually stained tissue on the right; Copyright: Pekka Ruusuvuori

Pekka Ruusuvuori

AI-based method to replace chemical staining of tissue

21/04/2023

Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence-based method for virtual staining of histopathological tissue samples as a part of the Nordic ABCAP consortium.
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Image: Woman examines an x-ray of a head via a hologram in a dark room; Copyright: Shutterstock.com/PeopleImages.com - Yuri A

Shutterstock.com/PeopleImages.com - Yuri A

6G Health kick-off: better healthcare with 6G networking

18/04/2023

Starting now, the Fraunhofer Heinrich-Hertz-Institut (HHI) is developing fundamental technology components for 6G-based medical applications in the research project "6G-Health" (Holistic Development of High-Performance 6G Networking for Distributed Medical Technology Systems).
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Image: Smiling female doctor in a practice, using a tablet; Copyright: westend61

westend61

Platform for the rapid development of digital health applications

03/04/2023

Fraunhofer FIT presents a toolbox for the rapid development of digital health applications. It can help to respond to urgent needs in the healthcare market. The platform integrates applications, methods and solutions from several national and European research projects.
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Image: Someone playing a memory game on the smartphone; Copyright: beta-web | memodio GmbH

beta-web

Dementia prevention with memodio – app helps fend off memory loss

03/04/2023

Globally, 55 million persons are effected by dementia. The neurodegenerative disease is a chronic condition. Once the decline in brain function has started, it is difficult to stop it, thus underscoring the importance of prevention. This is where memodio comes into play. The app is designed to help people with cognitive training and prevent dementia.
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Image: Three women and a man are smiling and looking at their laptops while sitting in a library; Copyright: Uni Tübingen

Uni Tübingen

Targeted computer modelling to accelerate antiviral drug development

31/03/2023

Andreas Dräger from the University of Tübingen is working on a computer-based method that can help to accelerate the time-consuming identification and development of antiviral agents.
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Image: Esperanza Varela, María Teresa Anarte and Mónica Carreira, researchers at the University of Malaga, posing at the entrance of the Faculty of Psychology; Copyright: University of Malaga

University of Malaga

MyDiaMate app strengthens mental health for adults with type 1 diabetes

29/03/2023

International researchers –from the Netherlands, Germany, United Kingdom, and Spain– work together to develop an app that improves physical and emotional well-being in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D).
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Image: The SPUR tool, a plastic dispenser, can help patients living with Type 2 Diabetes take their medications correctly; Copyright: Kingston University

Kingston University

Medication adherence tool predicts hospital admissions of Type 2 Diabetes patients

28/03/2023

A pioneering behavioural diagnostic tool developed by Kingston University, London and healthcare technology company Observia to help patients take their medication as prescribed is the first holistic model in the world to accurately predict hospital admissions and readmissions in people living with Type 2 Diabetes, according to a new study.
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Image: Close-up of a wrist wearing a smartwatch; Copyright: Tima Miroshnichenko, Pexels

Tima Miroshnichenko, Pexels

Digital tools make physical exercise programmes more effective and easier to stick with

23/03/2023

Physical exercise programmes tend to be more effective and easier to stick with when they have been prescribed via mobile digital devices rather than in person or without technological support.
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Image: Virtual 3D illustration showing robotic arms operating on a brain; Copyright: Petra Ritter/BIH

Petra Ritter/BIH

European test infrastructure for AI and robotics in healthcare

09/03/2023

The Fraunhofer Heinrich-Hertz-Institut (HHI) is part of the EU project TEF-Health (Testing and Experimentation Facility for Health AI and Robotics), which aims to establish a test infrastructure for artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics in healthcare.
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Image: A man in a blue shirt, Professor Dr Alexander Schönhuth, standing next to a wall and smiles at the camera; Copyright: Bielefeld University/Sarah Jonek

Bielefeld University/Sarah Jonek

Predicting outbreak of ALS disease with AI methods

08/03/2023

Using artificial intelligence (AI) methods, researchers led by Professor Dr Alexander Schönhuth from Bielefeld University’s Faculty of Technology have succeeded in recording and deciphering the genotype profiles of 3,000 ALS patients and thus learning more about the development of the disease.
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Image: Prof. Dr. Aldo Faisal smiles at the camera in an institute building; Copyright: privat.

private

Smart clothing and Artificial Intelligence: Diagnosis and monitoring of neurological diseases

01/02/2023

International research groups led by Prof. Dr. Aldo Faisal, Professor of Digital Health at the University of Bayreuth, have developed a novel set of tools for diagnosing and monitoring neurological diseases based on body-worn sensors (wearables) and artificial intelligence.
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Image: Kid in wheelchair is happy with father on the beach, Excited to see the sea on a vacation; Copyright: gaysorn1442

gaysorn1442

Wearable tech, AI, clinical teams combine to change face of clinical trial monitoring

30/01/2023

A multi-disciplinary team of researchers has developed a way to monitor the progression of movement disorders using motion capture technology and AI.
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Image: An Illustration of the microelectronic fibers fabricated by the thermal drawing process and its fabrics for sweat sensing.; Copyright: Tohoku University

Tohoku University

Analyzing sweat via microelectronic fibers for non-invasive health monitoring

25/01/2023

Imagine if a t-shirt could analyze sweat, potentially alerting the wearer to any health abnormalities. Well, this is now closer to reality thanks to a research group's recent innovation.
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Image: A sleeveless shirt is shown with a transmitter that sends the data to a smartphone via radio link; Copyright: Osaka Metropolitan University

Osaka Metropolitan University

Realtime monitoring with wearable reveals IBS-related changes

18/01/2023

Associate Professor Fumio Tanaka and his research group at the Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Medicine recorded the autonomic nervous system activity of IBS patients and healthy subjects using a wearable device and tracked activities such as defecation and sleep.
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Image: A smartphone with an opened app that tracks the sleep cycle is lying on a glass table; Copyright: seventyfourimages

seventyfourimages

Digitization of healthcare: Where does Germany rank?

16/01/2023

How far along is the digitization of the German healthcare system at the moment? It is an interesting question for both users and patients who can benefit directly from digitization and providers who plan to complement the German healthcare market with digitization products and solutions.
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Image: Screenshot of a website showing the illustration of a pregnant woman, a female physician and a text about the German mothers' pass (Mutterpass); Copyright: Screenshot HEDI-App

Screenshot HEDI-App

HEDI: App supports pregnant women and young families

16/01/2023

Pregnant women often feel an increased need for information. It is great when midwives, gynecologists, and advisory services are within easy reach and quickly accessible as a valuable resource. Unfortunately, that is not always the case, especially in rural districts. This is where the HEDI app can help, because it puts pregnant women in touch with local contacts and services.
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Bild: Close-up of a laboratory technician, he tests a sample using a spectrometer in the laboratory, fills the sample into the cuvette; Copyright: kwanruanp

kwanruanp

DZHK establishes two central biobanks - cooperation partners welcome

16/01/2023

The German Center for Cardiovascular Research is centralizing its biospecimens collections, which are currently stored at 60 sites. Therefore, it is looking for two biobanks as scientific cooperation partners. Applications are now open to all German biobanks.
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Image: Close-up Of A Man Checking Blood Sugar Level At Home With Glucometer And Test Strips; Copyright: dolgachov

dolgachov

Type 2 diabetes: Machine learning can predict poor glycemic control from patient information systems

13/01/2023

The risk for poor glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes can be predicted with confidence by using machine learning methods, a new study from Finland finds.
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Image: Fictional 3D illustration of three robotic arms operating on a human brain, Copyright: Petra Ritter / BIH

Petra Ritter / BIH

€60 million committed to establish AI and robotics in healthcare

11/01/2023

The EU project TEF-Health aims to test and validate innovative artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics solutions for the healthcare sector and accelerate their path to market.
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Image: person wearing VR glasses for biofeedback training with a doctor in a treatment room; Copyright: microgen

microgen

The digital patient: The next big step for healthcare

09/01/2023

The "digital patient" is a model that encompasses everything from patients who use VR headsets to meet with their doctor in the metaverse to those who use smart technologies to find a possible diagnosis.
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Image: A comic shows a doctor and a patient who are networked and communicating with each other via computer, Copyright: Mostphotos

Mostphotos

Digital therapies can alleviate depressive symptoms

05/01/2023

With a shortage of therapists, help with mental health problems is being sought from digital interventions, where elements of psychological treatment are offered via computer programs or mobile applications. According to a study, smart devices can help identify people with symptoms of depression and anxiety.
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Image: Nurse is caring for a surgical wound at the leg of a patient; Copyright: DegrooteStock

DegrooteStock

Wound care: healing with technology

01/12/2022

Wound care by nurses is directly about cleaning, sterile covering, and documentation. Medical and surgical interventions may also be necessary. In this context, wound care also offers potential for the use of technical aids that can help prevent complications.
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In your pocket – therapy on the go

17/11/2022

Smart devices and mobile applications that give us an all-round view of our health or support us in everyday life are very much in vogue. It doesn't matter if it's about prevention or help during rehabilitation. However, it is not that easy to meet the strict regulatory requirements. But the drive for innovation continues undiminished.
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Together for the newest technology – Highlight tour at the Fraunhofer joint stand

15/11/2022

Several Fraunhofer institutes present their latest technology in the field of medical technology and health at MEDICA 2022. Automation processes, polymers and digital networking are just some of the topics to be found at the stand. We talked to some of the institutes during our highlight tour.
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Diagnostics anywhere – with smartphones, apps and wearables

15/11/2022

Blood sugar, heartbeat, sleep - nowadays, many apps and wearables help us keep an eye on our health and even diagnose diseases. At MEDICA 2022, we discovered some of the little all-rounders for your pocket.
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Devices to wear today – Highlight tour at WT | Wearable Technologies Show

15/11/2022

Small and large, visible and invisible, for pain relief, for monitoring chronic diseases or as a support in everyday life – wearables come in many forms today. At MEDICA, the WT | Wearable Technologies Show has established itself as a joint stand for exhibitors from this sector. We talked to some of them on our tour.
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In the think tank – Tour at MEDICA START-UP PARK

15/11/2022

For young companies there is a central contact point at MEDICA: the MEDICA START-UP PARK. Start-ups are given the opportunity here to present their ideas around the healthcare of the future and to get in touch with potential partners and investors. We talked to some of the start-ups during our highlight tour.
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Image: A middle-aged female doctor makes video call on a laptop while sitting at a desk; Copyright: insidecreativehouse

insidecreativehouse

Low-code medical protocols automation with Mindify

03/11/2022

To ease physicians’ clinical routines, medical technologies like data collecting and analyzing software can be helpful. The company Mindify developed a solution, that helps patients while unburdening physicians at the same time. The MEDICA CONNECTED HEALTHCARE FORUM showcases various technologies to enhance healthcare and connect patients, clinics and physicians.
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Image: Entrance area of Messe Düsseldorf,

Messe Düsseldorf / ctillmann

MEDICA 2022: Where Healthcare is going

03/11/2022

The time has come: MEDICA 2022 opens its doors! Whether start-ups, current research results from sports medicine or exciting contributions from the laboratories of this world - you will find all of this bundled at the trade fair center in Düsseldorf from November 14 to 17. For a brief overview of what visitors can expect in our forums and conferences, see our Topic of the Month.
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Image: An elderly person is fitted with a modern hearing aid; Copyright: halfpoint

halfpoint

Novel sensor system with AI-driven biomarkers for patients with heart failure

07/10/2022

UNISONO aims to develop a novel system combining an ear-worn sensor with speech recognition.
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Digital patient model for chronic diseases – A dashboard for more targeted diagnoses and therapies

05/10/2022

In the MED²ICIN lead project, a digital patient model for chronically ill persons has been developed. A particularly clear, web-based dashboard shows, among other things, the course of the disease, medication responses and recommendations for action. In addition, the data can be compared with a large pool of data from other patients.
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Image: Software shows virtual anatomical model on a display; Copyright: Virtonomy GmbH

Virtonomy GmbH

Virtonomy: Performing virtual clinical trials with a digital twin solution

04/10/2022

Virtual clinical trials can be accomplished a lot faster and conducted with more flexibility for patients than in real life. The start-up Virtonomy takes these clinical trials to the next level with the software v-Patients. With v-Patients, a digital twin can be constructed and used in silico clinical trials.
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Image: Brain monitoring software is displayed on a monitor; Copyright: Tuomas Svärd, Antti-Jussi Haapala, Jukka Kortelainen

Tuomas Svärd, Antti-Jussi Haapala, Jukka Kortelainen

Cerenion: AI software improves brain monitoring

27/09/2022

Intensive care patients need to be monitored closely in all areas. For a better overview of the brain functions, Cerenion developed software called C-Trend. With artificial intelligence, the care for intensive care patients can be significantly improved.
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Image: Tablet computer at the wall showing a smart home screen; Copyright: halfpoint

halfpoint

Busto automatika: Smart house integrator

01/09/2022

How and, above all, where do we want to age? Preferably within our own four walls, surrounded by our loved ones. How technology can help us feel safe in the process? Busto Automatika specializes in smart home applications and is not only available to help relatives with advice and technology.
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Image: Two male researchers analyzing data sets on a computer screen; Copyright: Felix Petermann | MDC

Felix Petermann | MDC

Project "ikarus" provides new insights for cancer research

01/08/2022

Artificial intelligence (AI) is about to become a game changer, especially in diagnostics. However, there are still limits to the use of AI. Dr. Altuna Akalin had to recognize this as well. The head of the Max Delbrück Center's (MDC) technology platform for "Bioinformatics and Omics Data Science" developed "ikarus" with his team.
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Image: Two men are sitting in front of a laptop computer and are talking about an image on the screen - Josch Konstantin Pauling, Nikolai Köhler; Copytight: LipiTUM

LipiTUM

MoSBi: Algorithm identifies disease subtypes

01/08/2022

Doctors have always used symptoms, imaging, and laboratory data to define and diagnose diseases, but at times it is simply not enough: while patients may have the same illness, it may exhibit different changes at the molecular level. A team from the Technical University of Munich has developed the so-called MoSBi algorithm and makes it available to researchers to identify molecular differences.
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Image: Chip with adipose tissue is held in place by hands in purple disposable gloves; Copyright: Berthold Steinhilber

Berthold Steinhilber

Ex vivo obesity research thanks to the adipose-on-chip system

08/07/2022

Ex vivo studies of human obesity without animal testing? The Adipose-on-Chip system offers a solution that allows scientists to gain better insights into various obesity-linked secondary diseases and comorbidities in the future.
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Image: Two female researchers examine the odor of a sample in a laboratory setting; Copyright: microgen@gmail.com

microgen@gmail.com

Digital nose facilitates early detection and diagnosis

22/06/2022

Many diseases can be treated successfully if they are diagnosed early. Research into a “digital (electronic) nose” is one promising development to facilitate early detection and diagnosis. That’s because body odors and their molecular composition are an early indicator of various diseases that often remain undetected in the early stages.
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Image: A woman is standing in her living room and performs a fitness exercise while wearing VR goggles; Copyright: Prostock-studio

Prostock-studio

Exergames: leveraging the fun of games to support therapy

01/06/2022

Some patients need physiotherapy after suffering an injury, but the process can be tough and tedious. Depending on the indication, this may necessitate multiple treatment sessions that can span several weeks. Added to this are therapy exercises patients should do at home. The amount of training and repetitions can make it difficult to stay engaged. Gamification in therapy can boost motivation.
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Image: A man is standing inside a cube with three walls where a virtual game is projected and is touching a point at the wall; Copyright: ZHAW Departement Gesundheit, Bewegungslabor

ZHAW Departement Gesundheit, Bewegungslabor

Rehabilitation after sports injury: Gamification of exercises in the ExerCube

01/06/2022

Returning to a sport after injury can be demanding and arduous as athletes often need to undergo lengthy rehabilitation. Yet even after they have physically recovered from their injury, some may experience mental issues that can make it difficult to return to play and competition. Exercises that combine physical and mental training and challenges in a game setting can be an effective solution.
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Image: A woman lies in her bed with dim lighting, on the nightstand is a small box that monitors her sleep; Copyright: Sleepiz AG

Sleepiz AG

Sleep screening: Sleepiz is your contactless at-home sleep laboratory

23/05/2022

People around the world suffer from sleep disorders. Some conditions like sleep apnea or chronic respiratory disease can lead to serious health problems. Patients require medical long-term monitoring, but it’s currently not an easy feat. Graduates of ETH Zurich and the University of St. Gallen plan to change that and developed Sleepiz.
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Image: A female physician is talking to a coughing man in a video meeting; Copyright: PantherMedia/Andrey Popov

PantherMedia/Andrey Popov

Telemedicine: Safe diagnostics in the pandemic - and beyond

01/04/2022

Who could have foreseen how the Corona pandemic would transform our lives? The work world has been transformed by mobile working and digital tools. Face-to-face meetings still matter, but they are not quite as important as they used to be. And telemedicine is changing how physicians interact with patients.
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Image: A woman with glasses and white hair is solving some tasks on a sheet of paper; Copyright: PantherMedia/microgen

PantherMedia/happysuthida

Dementia: "We want to achieve earlier diagnosis for more people"

29/03/2022

As we get older, we tend to become more forgetful, sometimes strange or even confused and overwhelmed by everyday life. But is it always just the age? With an increasing lifespan, the possibility to suffer from a cognitive disease at one point is also increasing. The majority of cognitive diseases is never diagnosed.
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Image: IT infrastructure of a man was encrypted by ransomware; Copyright: PantherMedia / Andriy Popov

PantherMedia / Andriy Popov

Increasing cyber security awareness of hospital staff

08/03/2022

Medical facilities are considered a critical infrastructure sector. Staff members must receive regular cyber security training to ensure proper IT infrastructure management and prevent shortfalls in medical care.
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Dermatologist consultation via app – The successful start-up dermanostic

23/02/2022

The start-up dermanostic, multiple-time exhibitor in the MEDICA START-UP PARK, unites telemedicine with dermatology: patients can upload images of skin diseases via app and receive specialist consultation. This not only helps to reduce direct contacts during the Corona pandemic, but also benefits areas without dermatologist offices.
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Mass accidents – Measuring vital signs from the air with "FALKE"

09/02/2022

The flight system "FALKE" (German for "falcon") could improve care during MCI events (mass casualty incidents). Using different camera systems and AI, it could be able to determine nature and amount of the different injuries. It could also measure the vital signs of injured persons to help the control center gain a better overview of the situation.
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Image: Cartoon for the Konectom App; Copyright: Phil Hubbe/ZKN

Phil Hubbe/ZKN

Konectom: App supports self-management of Multiple Sclerosis

08/02/2022

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous systems that requires regular checkups with the neurologist every three months. However, an exacerbation of MS, also known as a flare-up, can occur between these appointments. The Konectom smartphone app aims to close this diagnostic gap.
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Image: Hand-made duty roster; Copyright: PantherMedia  / Mathias Fengler

AI: Automating healthcare workforce planning

01/02/2022

The shortage of healthcare workers is a social challenge that must be properly addressed. Pradtke GmbH teamed up with the Bochum Institute of Technology gGmbH and contec GmbH in the research project titled "AI-powered healthcare workforce planning and management" (KI-unterstützte Personaleinsatzplanung und-steuerung im Gesundheitswesen, KI-PEPS).
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Image: Image showing part of an ECMO machine – a square part through which blood is channeled; Copyright: PantherMedia/Richmanphoto

PantherMedia/nialowwa

Digital recruiting – A generational issue

01/02/2022

Overworked, underpaid and – from the onset of the coronavirus pandemic – underappreciated. It is no wonder nobody wants to work in hospitals anymore. Today’s hospitals must get creative to attract skilled healthcare professionals. Facilities can use digital technologies to appeal to and hire future talent. Unfortunately, many human resources departments have not yet embraced this approach.
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Image: CT scan of the abdomen with two red markers; Copyright: PantherMedia/stockdevil_666

PantherMedia/stockdevil_666

Computed tomography: Digital signals with photon-counting CT

01/02/2022

Does medicine get digital when we scan in diagnostic findings and digitize them in the process? It obviously is more efficient to record data directly in digital form, but not all diagnostic tools have this option. Computed tomography has now made enormous progress in this area: Unlike conventional CT technology, the new photon-counting CT directly creates digital image data.
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Image: Female physician is sitting at her desk, holding a sign with the words

PantherMedia/ndanko (YAYMicro)

Digital strategies to mitigate hospital staff shortages

01/02/2022

Whether it pertains to medical careers or healthcare occupations: Hospitals are struggling with a shortage of qualified professionals. The COVID-19 pandemic is putting a major strain on healthcare systems and the public has taken notice. Yet even without pandemic surges, hospital jobs have an image problem. At the same time, employee demands have changed.
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Image: Female physician is sitting at a desk in front of a laptop and is taking a note; Copyright: PantherMedia/undrey

PantherMedia/undrey

Digital HR management – Help against skilled worker shortage

01/02/2022

Qualified staff is the most valuable resource in the healthcare sector. But this resource is threatened because it is under extreme strain – not only since the Corona pandemic but for many years already. Healthcare facilities could experience a dramatic aggravation of the skilled worker shortage in the coming years because of this.
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Image: A person with a smartphone in hand is standing in front of a computer-generated model of the liver; Copyright: PantherMedia/happysuthida

PantherMedia/happysuthida

AI-driven laboratory diagnostics with medicalvalues

25/01/2022

Lab results are often complex and not easy to interpret. For many diseases, a medical diagnosis requires the analysis and combination of different values. That’s why one of the themes at the MEDICA LABMED FORUM at MEDICA 2021 highlighted "Integrative and AI-driven diagnostics" - and illustrated how AI can help interpret laboratory results and values.
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Image: The Harmony COVID-19 test; Copyright: Mark Stone/University of Washington

Mark Stone/University of Washington

Fast and cheap test can detect COVID-19 virus' genome without need for PCR

25/01/2022

Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a new test for COVID-19 that combines the speed of over-the-counter antigen tests with the accuracy of PCR tests that are processed in medical labs and hospitals.
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Image: A vegan to flexitarian diet; Copyright: PantherMedia / marilyna

PantherMedia / marilyna

Climate Change: "Meat Should be Reserved for Special Occasions"

18/01/2022

The global food system today directly and indirectly impacts personal and planetary health and burdens the health care system and climate as a result. Rethinking our diet and food choices and using technology can make a lasting difference on the health of people and our planet.
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Image: A person in a lab coat is holding a device with an antenna extended into a glass; Coypright: Universität des Saarlandes

Universität des Saarlandes

Coronavirus: Using odors to detect an infection

10/01/2022

Rapid COVID-19 tests can be rather uncomfortable as samples are typically collected with a deep nasal or throat swab. Scientists now explore an alternative to rapid diagnostic tests based on a patient’s breath.
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Image: A prototype wearable sensor,; Copyright: KAUST; Olga Kasimova

KAUST; Olga Kasimova

Fitness sensor warns when you're at your limits

04/01/2022

Wearable device alerts users about muscle fatigue by monitoring pH levels of sweat. Ultrathin nanomaterials, known as MXenes, are poised to make it easier to monitor a person’s well-being by analyzing their perspiration.
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Image: The Vemo System® with a patient and therapists; Copyright: Reactive Robotics

Reactive Robotics

Robotics in Intensive Care Units: "Stand Patients up on Their Feet and Let Them Walk"

04/01/2022

Robotics have made their way into many areas in healthcare. So far, intensive care units had not utilized robotic systems. Now there is an application that facilitates ICU care tasks.
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Image: A microsensor in the eye of a man enables self-measurement; Copyright: Implandata

Glaucoma: Microimplant monitors intraocular pressure

01/12/2021

Chronic conditions require close monitoring to ensure a successful therapeutic outcome. Unfortunately, patients aren't always able to perform their own measurements and the exam intervals between appointments are frequently too long. An innovative implant is designed to address this gap in glaucoma care and treatment and enable patients to make intraocular pressure measurements on their own.
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Digital and automated laboratory – Robots as multifunctional helpers

26/11/2021

A lot of laboratory tasks require high precision on one hand, on the other they tend to be repetitive and tiring. While humans can only work for a limited time here while staying effective, robots are able to work without taking a break. The start-up bAhead wants to make collaborative robots, CoBots, adaptable helpers with the help of AI. We learn more from CEO & Founder Rainer Treptow.
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Digitalization in orthopedic technology – A craft is changing

22/11/2021

Orthopedic auxiliary means are mostly still produced in manual labor today. But orthopedic technology is also trying out new ways by using tools like 3D scanners, digital models and 3D printing. Nadja Singer from Ottobock explains in our video interview how this changes the production of auxiliary means.
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Image: a person holding a smartphone with a digital certificate; Copyright: PantherMedia / Sorapop Udomsri

PantherMedia / Sorapop Udomsri

Healthcare: "The digital transformation has only just begun"

09/11/2021

The coronavirus pandemic has forced us to rethink the healthcare system: It gave way to contactless services over the phone or the internet. Why would we not continue to take advantage of this once the crisis will be over? The MEDICA ECON FORUM by TK at MEDICA 2021 will address this subject.
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Image: Entrance of the Messe Düsseldorf, at the floor a MEDICA logo next to the writing “MEDICA – Welcome”; Copyright: Messe Düsseldorf/ctillmann

Messe Düsseldorf/ctillmann

MEDICA 2021: Return to the fair halls!

02/11/2021

The last year was quite different, since MEDICA had to take place online due to the Corona pandemic – but in 2021 we return to the fair halls in Düsseldorf again! There are not only about 2.900 exhibitors from 70 nations expecting you, but also a rich program in our forums and conferences. We took an advanced peek on some of the exciting highlights for you in our Topic of the Month.
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Image: Man presenting something on a whiteboard to a group of people; Copyright: PantherMedia/Wavebreakmedia Ltd.

New Work in Healthcare

02/11/2021

Working remotely, flexible work arrangements, and digital tools for work support – all these aspects are part of the New Work concept. It's a term that most of us are familiar with, especially since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. MEDICA 2021 will highlight how these concepts can be implemented in healthcare on Thursday, November 18, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the MEDICA HEALTH IT FORUM.
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Image: Hand is holding a smartphone with an opened health app; Copyright: Health2Sync

Health2Sync

AI in healthcare: How to build a technology ecosystem

02/11/2021

Taiwan has long been a model for the implementation and use of new technologies. It is thus only natural that Taiwanese companies are forerunners when it comes to Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare. This is also one of the topics of this year’s MEDICA CONNECTED HEALTHCARE FORUM.
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Image: A female nurse is pushing an elderly woman in a wheelchair through the lounge of a hospital; Copyright: PantherMedia/phovoir (YAYMicro)

PantherMedia/phovoir (YAYMicro)

Digital transitional care management - with CareNext

22/10/2021

Some patients need continued inpatient or outpatient care after they have been officially discharged from the hospital after treatment. Finding an acceptable discharge placement to ensure continuity of care is a very time-consuming process for hospitals. A team of young entrepreneurs has created a solution to this problem with its “CareNext” platform, which it will showcase at MEDICA 2021.
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Image: a robot arm holding a small glass; Copyright: PantherMedia / Bork

PantherMedia / Bork

The smart lab: Between manual work and digitization

01/10/2021

In the laboratory, there is some work that is time-consuming and monotonous – making it the perfect place for digital solutions such as artificial intelligence or robotics. But what work can these systems really take on in a meaningful way, in which areas of the lab are they present today, and where do they still need to be improved?
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Image: Representation of a sensor that locates free beds; Copyright: simplinic Gmbh

simplinic GmbH

Easing the burden on healthcare personnel: bed sensors facilitate fast location of available hospital beds

23/08/2021

One lesson the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us is hospitals are short on staff and time is a most valuable and scarce resource in health care that should not be wasted. That is why it only makes sense to automate repetitive and recurring tasks that are big time wasters and keep hospital staff from doing more important work.
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Image: Blood vessels and nerve tracts of a mouse; Copyright: Helmholtz Zentrum München

SWIR Imaging: The Power of Multi-Color Real-Time Technology

02/08/2021

Image-guided surgery is based on medical imaging. However, past imaging technologies performed while the patient is awake cannot deliver a complete view that facilitates a visual differentiation of structures such as blood vessels and nerve tracts. In a study, scientists developed a non-invasive imaging modality that enables multiplexing, deep tissue penetration, and real-time resolution.
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Image: A young boy is sitting in front of a computer, looking at a 3D scan of his head; Copyright: Artec 3D

Orthopedic technology: 3D scanners change the industry

01/07/2021

Orthopedic technology involves taking a measurement of a specific body part and then creating a medical device, be it prosthesis or orthosis, that fits. While optical scanners are already used for some of these measurements, others are still performed through manual labor and craft to create molds of the body. 3D scanners are changing this.
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Image: A female hospital employee is looking at patient data on a computer screen while holding a medication package in her hand; Copyright: PantherMedia/DragosCondreaW

PantherMedia/DragosCondreaW

Population health management: networking versus data silos

22/06/2021

Data silos still prevail in the German health care system: providers store and collect patient data for their own purposes, making it not available to the entire organization. Many still mainly share this data in analog form. Comprehensive, integrated delivery networks would make many practices easier.
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Image: Doctor in medical gowns types on a tablet; Copyright: PantherMedia/rogerphoto

PantherMedia/rogerphoto

Accelerating digitization of hospitals through innovation

10/06/2021

Helping hospitals in Germany build a long-term digitization strategy - that is the declared goal of the young founding team of the innovation go platform, which started at the Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences. The project is funded by EXIST, a support program of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi).
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Treatment table in an intensive care unit in a hospital; Copyright: PantherMedia / sudok1

PantherMedia / sudok1

Smart Expert System Assists Medical Diagnostics

12/05/2021

A current research project develops a system designed to support critical care physicians in the future. The research project "A Learning and Interoperable Smart Expert System for Pediatric Intensive Care Medicine (ELISE)" uses data collected via machine learning algorithms to assist diagnostic decision-making.
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Image: a person in a brown jacket is holding a smartphone in the hands; Copyright: PantherMedia / bernardbodo

DiGA: Learning Self-Management Skills with Evidence-Based Information

03/05/2021

Professor Anja Mehnert-Theuerkauf was involved in the development of a digital health application (DiGA) for cancer patients. The Mika app provides information and accompanies patients through treatment with a personalized support program that caters to all types of cancer. In this MEDICA-tradefair.com interview, she explains the opportunities and the limits of digital health applications.
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Image: Two hospital employees fill a shelf in a storage room with medical supplies; Copyright: PantherMedia/SimpleFoto

PantherMedia/SimpleFoto

Hospital logistics: three action steps to future success

22/04/2021

Behind every hospital are sophisticated and complex logistics that must run like clockwork to keep things going. But how good are the processes when it comes to managing patient care and hospital staff? There are many weak links that can be avoided. Comprehensive digitization and efficient, targeted healthcare workforce management are required to set up hospital logistics for future success.
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Image: Rescue team in action; Copyright: PantherMedia/HayDmitriy

PantherMedia/HayDmitriy

Mobile and intelligent – emergency blood analysis

08/03/2021

Things need to move fast in an emergency. Making the right call in this setting can be a challenge for emergency medical services – especially when symptoms are ambiguous, which is the case if a patient has difficulty breathing or exhibits a cardiovascular or poisoning emergency. A blood analysis is paramount to deliver a fast and accurate diagnosis. This is where mobOx comes in.
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Image: disinfection of a door handle around which coronaviruses are flying; Copyright: PantherMedia/AntonMatyukha

Necessity is the mother of invention – innovations in the corona pandemic

01/03/2021

Keeping your distance, washing your hands, wearing a mask – such protective measures have been the order of the day since the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic began. But appropriate products or procedures are not suitable for everyone, are often unavailable or, despite everything, carry a residual risk. The need for new, better solutions is high. But necessity is the mother of invention.
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Image: Patient in the intensive care unit; Copyright: PantherMedia/halfpoint

PantherMedia/halfpoint

Biostatistics: using data and models to fight Covid-19

27/01/2021

We are all familiar with these images from some countries: Completely full intensive care units, doctors working frantically despite being ill, being forced to decide who lives and who dies due to critical shortages of respirators. How can you forecast Covid-19 impact on healthcare systems to avoid overload? Biostatistician Professor Frank Klawonn studies this issue.
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Image: woman holding an asthma inhaler in one hand and a smartphone in the other; Copyright: PantherMedia/microgen

Asthma: Self-management thanks to apps and wearables

11/01/2021

Today, managing one's own chronic disease is hardly possible without digital helpers – not least because of the corona pandemic. People with asthma also benefit from apps and wearables. They help patients connect better with doctors and better understand their own disease. Our Topic of the Month looks at why this is so important and what the digital services can do.
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Image: young man in profile looking at his smartphone laughing; Copyright: PantherMedia/yacobchuk1

mHealth for asthma: Help me manage it myself!

11/01/2021

According to the WHO, around 600 million people worldwide suffer from chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma. Key in the fight against these diseases is therapy adherence, but many sufferers often find this difficult. The result is increased hospitalization, which ultimately comes at the expense of the healthcare system. Smart and mobile technologies could change that.
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Image: Smartphone with a health app in the hands of a young woman in the gym; Copyright: PantherMedia/KostyaKlimenko

PantherMedia/KostyaKlimenko

Digital Health Applications Ordinance: Fast track admission for health apps

06/01/2021

Until now, it sounded quite odd to receive reimbursement for digital health apps: There are too many and the majority has never been checked for safety and positive effects. Thanks to the "Digital Health Applications Ordinance", these apps can now reach the German market in a regulated way, physicians can prescribe them and statutory health insurance companies reimburse their use.
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Image: Sense Glucose Earring on a model; Copyright: The University of Huddersfield

The University of Huddersfield

Sense Glucose Earring for managing type 1 diabetes

10/12/2020

A product design graduate from the University of Huddersfield has defeated thousands of entries from around the world to become one of the finalists of the 2020 Global Grad Show with their design for a discrete earring that monitors blood sugar levels and delivers feedback in real-time.
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Image: Laboratory robot Kevin; Copyright: Fraunhofer IPA

Fraunhofer IPA

Alone in the lab – robot Kevin relieves the staff

08/12/2020

If Kevin was alone in the lab at night, the next morning, the workers will not find chaos, but labeled tubes and prepared samples. Kevin is a laboratory robot developed by Fraunhofer IPA to relieve the strain on laboratory workers so that they can concentrate on the essentials: research and diagnostics.
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Image: Microimplant; Copyright: Fraunhofer IZM

Fraunhofer IZM

Microimplants: electricity instead of pills

23/11/2020

Active implants such as pacemakers revolutionized healthcare decades ago. But they also have disadvantages: their size and relatively short life span, for example. At Fraunhofer IZM, research is therefore being conducted on durable microimplants that stimulate nerve cells electrically in a targeted manner and are even to be used to treat multiple sclerosis.
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mHealth for cardiology – CardioSecur helps from a distance

20/11/2020

Bringing the technology to the patient and not the other way around – that is the idea behind CardioSecur. The physician can connect the mobile ECG system to his smartphone and thus have it with him always and everywhere. We asked MD and Founder Felix Brand how this works, to what extent patients also benefit from it and why the technology is particularly useful in corona times.
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Image: empty operating room with disinfection robot; Copyright: stock.adobe.com/allensima

Disinfection: a robot nips viruses in the bud

02/11/2020

Hospitals are considered to be a primary route of disease transmission. That is why patient rooms, operating rooms, and waiting areas should be disinfected regularly and thoroughly - and not just during the coronavirus pandemic. At the virtual.MEDICA trade fair, ICA Traffic GmbH will showcase the HERO21 robot, a disinfection unit that uses UVC radiation.
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virtual.MEDICA 2020: Three start-ups introduce themselves

28/10/2020

We asked three start-ups to shortly introduce themselves in their own words in advance to virtual.MEDICA 2020. Come take a look!
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Image: Patient lying in a hospital bed with a monitor attached; Copyright: BEWATEC

ConnectedCare: hospital roadmap to becoming a Smart Hospital

01/10/2020

Scheduling, bed management, and menu ordering – today’s hospitals take advantage of a variety of digital services. In the worst-case scenario, each service requires a different interface to the central information system, marking a major barrier that holds back digitization. With ConnectedCare, BEWATEC shows there is a better way.
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Image: Symbols from everyday hospital life as digital images coming from a stethoscope; Copyright: PantherMedia/everythingposs

Smart Hospital: Digitally Connected Healthcare

01/10/2020

Every year, new technologies hit the market. They expand, update, and connect hospitals and healthcare facilities. But advancing digitization not only accelerates the speed of improvements, it also uncovers problem areas that must still be fixed.
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Image: Connected areas of a treatment displayed as icons; Copyright: PantherMedia/Sonar

The digital hospital: integration and digitization

01/10/2020

Whether it's process automation, robotics in the OR and nursing areas, or the digitalization of patient records - in a smart hospital, everything comes together to form a connected hospital. Find out exactly how the Smart Hospital is being developed with the help of information platforms and projects in the Topic of the Month.
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Image: A physician talking on the phone and holding a tablet computer in his hand is standing in the lobby of a hospital; Copyright: PantherMedia/Wavebreakmedia Ltd

The digitization of hospitals requires necessary investments

01/10/2020

The coronavirus pandemic has shown us we can make swift changes and handle problems if we set our minds to it, especially thanks to tools of digitization. Hospitals in Germany can expect to see a boost in digital transformation because the Federal Government adopted the "Program to Future-Proof Hospitals" (Zukunftsprogramm Krankenhäuser).
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Smartlab – Robotics and automation in the laboratory

15/09/2020

Some tasks in the laboratory are repetitive, need to be done extremely precise and require a lot of time. Such tasks are very tedious for humans, but they are tailor-made for robots. Such is the case with the "AutoCRAT" project at the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT in Aachen. Here, a robotic platform is developed to produce stem cells for the treatment of osteoarthritis.
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Image: Montage of a wrist with an alarm button next to the floor plan of a hospital; Copyright: cibX GmbH

cibX GmbH

IoT in hospitals: keeping track of every zone

08/09/2020

In a time of pandemic, the emergency departments of most hospitals are under intense pressure. Processes can get mixed up, while some systems are stretched to the breaking point. It is easy to lose track of patients, medical devices and rooms. This is where the cibX intelligent IoT solution comes in. Real-time localization and visualization enable safe and up-to-date process optimization.
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Image: A young laboratory technician with AR glasses uses a pipette, he is surrounded by different bubbles with text; Copyright: Helbling Technik Wil AG

Augmented Reality for better laboratory results

01/09/2020

Accuracy is paramount in laboratory settings and ensures that lab results are valid. Errors in a lab can render series of tests unusable and waste precious time and money. In the medical realm, this might even result in clinical trial errors. Augmented reality (AR) can help laboratory technicians to prevent errors and guide their work in the future.
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Image: A miniaturized, round sensor under a fingertip; Copyright: TU Dresden

SmartLab: all-in-one automation, digitalization, and miniaturization

01/09/2020

Laboratories have to analyze and interpret an ever-increasing number of samples for research and diagnostic services, generating lots of data in the process. At the same time, labs are required to produce quality results and operate with speed. Processes that could once be managed using laboratory notebooks and isolated systems must become smart in the future to improve lab efficiency.
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Image: View into an automated laboratory machine that stores a lot of vials; Copyright: PantherMedia/kagemusha

The smart networking laboratory: when connected devices become one system

01/09/2020

Diagnostics, biomedical research, screening active ingredient candidates - laboratories perform many functions and must be flexible. Growing and evolving healthcare demands mean labs have to process an increasing number of samples. Modern laboratory information management systems can already support high-throughput, but a smart laboratory environment can make things even more efficient.
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Image: View into a device that automatically processes laboratory samples; Copyright: PantherMedia/Sonar

The laboratory 4.0: networked analyses

01/09/2020

There is likely no other branch of medicine where you can find as many high-tech devices as in modern laboratories. A major part of diagnostic and biomedical research is done here. A lot of individual steps in work processes need to be followed precisely to ensure the results’ quality. Also, a lot of data is generated here.
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Image: Application of AR sonography; Copyright: Fraunhofer IGD

Fraunhofer IGD

Augmented reality ultrasound: putting the focus on patients

10/08/2020

This is how a conventional ultrasound scan works: patients lie down on a table next to the ultrasound machine. A doctor uses a probe to scan the part of the body in question, while he or she looks at the pictures on a monitor. In other words, the physician either focuses on his/her hand on the patient or the monitor. The Fraunhofer IGD wants to change this process as part of the "sonAR" project.
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Image: Nurse checking surveillance monitor at the bedside and writing down patient data on a clipboard; Copyright: PantherMedia/Kzenon

PantherMedia/Kzenon

Big Data: early warning system for the ICU

03/08/2020

Patient monitoring systems in the ICU sound up to 700 alarms on average per patient per day, which boils down to one alarm every two minutes. An excessive number of them are false alarms. This generates vast amounts of data, which can make it difficult for doctors and nurses to identify the most critical alarms to manage. It also has a negative effect on the treatment of intensive care patients.
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Image: Monitoring monitor on the Intensive Care Unit; Copyright: PantherMedia/sudok1

PantherMedia/sudok1

In the Intensive Care Unit: smart solutions for better care

03/08/2020

In recent months, its central importance for the healthcare system has become more visible in the public eye due to the corona pandemic: the Intensive Care Unit. Patients who are in a critical condition due to illness, injury or surgery are cared for here by numerous high-tech devices. In addition, more digital solutions are being introduced.
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Image: Intensive care bed equipped with high-tech devices; Copyright: PantherMedia/sudok1

PantherMedia/sudok1

Balancing high-tech with humanity – digitization in the Intensive Care Unit

03/08/2020

No other hospital area features as much high-tech equipment as the intensive care unit. Each acute care hospital bed has four to ten devices that continuously monitor all patient vital signs and can replace nearly any organ. This creates big data that is often not used effectively. Yet it also holds promise and huge potential.
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Image: Person with VR glasses in a room; Copyright: EXXETA AG

EXXETA AG

Gamification: facilitating a gradual return-to-play

08/06/2020

Professional athletes depend on a speedy recovery from sports injuries or surgery because their livelihood depends on their physical fitness. Returning to competition too soon after injury can have negative health consequences. Standard tests are now combined with virtual reality to determine the optimal time to return to play.
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Image: Transmission of medical data of an athlete to a laptop; Copyright: PantherMedia / Viktor Cap

PantherMedia / Viktor Cap

Sports medicine software: Monitoring at the push of a button

22/05/2020

Athletes not only have to be fit and stay in shape, but they also have to achieve peak performance, especially when they get ready for athletic events. Optimized and individualized performance training requires data from external laboratories and institutes. The [i/med] Sports platform from DORNER Health IT Solutions provides a complete workflow − from anamnesis to diagnostic report.
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Image: Drawing of a man and woman talking about a medication plan; Copyright: mein.klinikplan.de

mein.klinikplan.de

eMMa: medication management app improves patient care

08/05/2020

A conversation between the patient and the doctor is always at the start of the health journey. The idea is to set the stage and share important information. This process can be shortened if information is already available in digital form. In the future, patients can submit their medication plan via app thanks to "eMMa".
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Image: View of a robot-mounted system from above; Copyright: panthermedia.net/wedmov

Robots in the Operating Room: Improving Training and Safety

04/05/2020

Surgical robots are transforming the operating room. They deliver many benefits but also present new challenges. That is why the efficient handling of robotic mechanisms must also be reflected in the respective training courses.
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Image: Smiling man is standing in nature with one had at his ear; Copyright: panthermedia.net/cristalov

panthermedia.net/cristalov

In-ear sensors for monitoring vital parameters

22/04/2020

Wearables offer practical solutions for the flexible measurement of data. The sensor from cosinuss° is worn directly in the ear and offers a precise monitoring of vital parameters.
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Image: young woman makes an ultrasound with the new system and shows patient the image on her smartphone; Copyright: Universitätsklinikum Bonn

Universitätsklinikum Bonn

Ultrasound to go: versatile partner on hospital rounds

08/04/2020

The University Hospital Bonn has recently introduced an ultrasound device that's small enough to fit in your coat pocket. It's ready to use once you have connected it to a tablet or smartphone. The portable system makes bedside physical exams possible. The device primarily benefits students as it allows them to combine basic knowledge and clinical application.
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Image: UV Visual Lift; Copyright: by UVentions

by UVentions

Hygiene: Smart protection against pathogens like the coronavirus

23/03/2020

Germs such as bacteria, viruses or pathogenic fungi can spread from one person to another through direct contact when we shake hands or touch objects. People touch door handles and push elevator buttons in public places and constantly move in and out of spaces. Regular manual high-level disinfection is practically impossible. UVentions GmbH has found an intelligent solution for this problem.
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Image: man holding his finger to the smartphone camera; Copyright: FibriCheck

Smartphone app detects cardiac arrhythmia

03/03/2020

Atrial fibrillation is one of the causes for a stroke and often appears without any previous indications. To reduce the risks and provide fast results, the application FibriCheck was invented. With the app it is possible to collect and measure data via smartphone camera.
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Sensors for safety – JUTTA supports caregivers

11/02/2020

Caregivers are unable to provide around-the-clock care and supervision. That's where JUTTA, the sensor-based technical support system comes in! It stands for Just-in-Time-Assistance. The system is used in the Dementia Shared Living Community Neukirchen-Vluyn. Sensors detect the motions of people in need of care in their living environment and provide valuable information to caregivers.
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Image: Heart symbols are floating over a smartphone in the hand of a physician; Copyright: panthermedia.net/thodonal

Digital cardiology: analyzing data beat by beat

03/02/2020

Chronic cardiovascular diseases are a growing burden worldwide. Most of them are diseases of civilization that spread, where lifestyle is improving or where it is good already. But the healthcare systems are not growing equally to keep up with this development. We can make up for this by making cardiological care smarter with eHealth and mHealth.
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Image: person holding hand to the heart with a graphic depiction of a heart in front of them; Copyright: panthermedia.net/suriyaphoto

Cardisiography: A Non-Invasive Heart Screening Test

03/02/2020

Coronary heart disease can come as a complete surprise and occur suddenly. Cardisiography was designed to lower the risk and make faster intervention possible. As a non-invasive heart screening test, cardisiography offers the possibility of early detection for heart diseases.
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Image: Colorful cubes with heart symbols are floating over a smartphone; Copyright: panthermedia.net/thodonal

Cardiology: digital solutions support those coping with chronic illness

03/02/2020

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, taking an estimated 17.9 million lives each year. Acute events such as heart attacks and strokes stand out in this setting. Chronic heart diseases can also be a debilitating condition for many patients. If cardiology uses digital methods and tools, it can reach more affected people.
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AI in the hospital – Possibilities and limits

17/01/2020

A hospital generates several thousands of gigabytes of data each day. The growing flood of data is no longer manageable for doctors. The great hope: artificial intelligence. Radiology is the main beneficiary. Dr. Felix Nensa from Essen University Hospital and Dr. Peter Langkafel from the Digital Health Factory tell us more about the possibilities and limits of learning machines.
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Image: the robot AV1 at school; Copyright: Estera Kluczenko

Estera Kluczenko

Robotics: an avatar to end loneliness

18/12/2019

A child who has to miss many days of school due to long-term illness? An older adult living alone or in a nursing home? The Norwegian startup No Isolation believes that nobody should have to experience social isolation, no matter how old you are. The company uses technology to help combat loneliness.
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Image: elderly woman with a tablet on her lap; Copyright: panthermedia.net/Lev Dolgachov

Ambient Assisted Living: sensors for seniors

02/12/2019

Our ageing society is confronted with fewer and fewer workers. One of the many consequences is a shortage of skilled nursing staff. Ambient Assisted Living should solve this problem. By equipping the living environment of elderly people or people in need of care with (technical) assistance systems, they are to be given more self-determination and security. The nursing staff also benefits.
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Image: white flat sensor module: the smart care plaster moio.care; Copyright: MOIO GmbH

Wearables: more freedom with the smart care patch

02/12/2019

Too many people in need of care and not enough health care professionals – we all know the problem. For years, research is underway to find digital solutions for AAL to support the growing number of older & sick adults. These new technologies aim to both alleviate caregiver burden and enhance everyday life of people in need of care with a minimum level of constraint whilst promoting independence.
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Image: several people standing around a bed with a stand-up function on which one person sits; Copyright: Ralf Lienert/Allgäuer Zeitung

AAL Living Lab: research, education and raising awareness

02/12/2019

Smart home systems are a perfect example of how technology can make our daily lives easier. The fact that they can use a tablet to adjust lighting and blinds in every room benefits older adults in more ways than one. These types of technical systems are a part of Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) and create a safe living environment for older persons.
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Image: elderly woman in a wheelchair showing a nurse something on a tablet; Copyright: panthermedia.net/mark@rocketclips.com

Smart care: safety and support thanks to AAL

02/12/2019

Average life expectancy keeps increasing, while birth rates are declining – at least when it comes to most industrial nations. The coming decades will see a decreasing number of gainfully employed people versus more and more senior citizens and people in need of care. It's a trend that already pushes healthcare to the brink. That's why we desperately need new concepts. One of them is AAL.
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Hightech solutions for hygiene, disinfection and sterilisation

21/11/2019

Hightech solutions for hygiene in the medical sector have been getting better and faster. There are not only machines that can disinfect everything by themselves, but there are portable and handy sterilisation solutions as well. At MEDICA 2019 you can find everything that is up-and-coming around medical hygiene.
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Smart Hospital - the hospital of the future

20/11/2019

Digitalization offers many opportunities for the hospital of the future. The Smart Hospital focuses on networking and short distances and stands for targeted and efficient care. At MEDICA 2019, we discover what technology can already provide today and where it is being used.
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Image: Digital twin of the lungs; Copyright: Ebenbuild/Jakob Richter

Ebenbuild/Jakob Richter

ARDS: Testing Consequences without Consequence

14/11/2019

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening illness in which the lungs are severely damaged. The condition always requires intensive medical care through mechanical ventilation. But not all lungs are the same. To ensure a personalized treatment that is adapted to the individual patient’s lung volume and condition, Ebenbuild relies on digital twins.
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Cyber security for medical devices - Practical help for manufacturers and users

05/11/2019

Completely underestimated: The safety risks associated with the networking of different medical devices, particularly in hospitals, have so far been severely neglected. This may now change, because the German expert group CyberMed has developed a filling aid for the technical information sheet on the cyber security of medical devices, the MDS2 form.
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Image: A physician is standing in front of a floating image of the brain and is touching one point; Copyright: panthermedia.net/Igor Vetushko

Medicine 5.0: machine learning algorithms in healthcare

04/11/2019

Artificial intelligence holds the promise of salvation when it comes to medicine: it is meant to unburden medical professionals, save time and money and perform tasks reliably and tirelessly. But before AI algorithms are allowed to diagnose diseases, many technical and ethical questions still need answers.
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Image: two athletes at the startline for a race; Copyright: panthermedia.net/vitalikradko

panthermedia.net/vitalikradko

Sports Hub project changes sports medicine with big data and AI

22/10/2019

Professor Jarek Krajewski sat down for a MEDICA interview and delivered a detailed description of the Sports Hub project. It highlights how big data and AI transform the world of sports medicine. The project delivers new insights and provides a versatile database.
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Image: Modern diabetes therapies; Copyright: beta-web GmbH

Digital and personalized diabetes management

21/10/2019

Digital blood glucose measurement via a sensor on the arm, glucose values in an app and data evaluation with the help of software: diabetes experts, product specialists at Roche Diabetes Care Germany and a patient talk in our report on MEDICA.de about the future of diabetes treatment.
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Image: Volker Bruns; Copyright: Fraunhofer ISS

Fraunhofer ISS

AI software: "iSTIX opens your world to the possibilities of digital pathology"

08/10/2019

The healthcare market offers a multitude of microscopes that make cells visible to the human eye. The same applies to AI-based software for image analysis. After taking the microscopic images, scientist are faced with large volumes of scans with usually low resolution. Yet when all aspects merge together, they open up a the world of digital pathology.
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Image: MEDICA START-UP PARK; Copyright: Messe Düsseldorf/ctillmann

MEDICA START-UP PARK: "For those, who want to experience the startup-spirit"

01/10/2019

When the halls of MEDICA are open to the world to showcase medical innovations, one joint exhibition booth is guaranteed to attract special attention - the MEDICA START-UP PARK. The startups that present their advances in this setting are interesting to visitors and investors, yet long-time exhibitors and big businesses can also benefit from building relationships with these young companies.
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Image: Functions of the bio-T plattform; Copyright: bio-T Medical

Medical IoT: fully realizing the potential of medical device data

01/10/2019

The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) plays an important role in monitoring patients in hospitals or performing measurements at home. Here medical devices are connected via cloud, where all patient measurement data are collected and analyzed. In the course of digitalization, the relevance of clouds in the medical sector is constantly increasing.
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Image: Connection of medical devices; Copyright: panthermedia.net/everythingposs

MEDICA START-UP PARK 2019: Experience tomorrow's innovations today

01/10/2019

The medical market is booming - medical ideas and visions for the future are more in demand than ever. Especially at MEDICA START-UP PARK 2019 young founders want to present their product innovations. Develop business contacts, meet investors and experience an international environment in just one place. Discover in our Topic of the Month what makes MEDICA START-UP PARK unique.
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Image: Wojcech Radomski; Copyright: StethoMe

Telemedicine: easy breathing with AI for respiratory tract

01/10/2019

Pneumonia, COPD or cystic fibrosis – people with such lung diseases have to consult their doctor regularly. Little children have to undergo certain measurements by the doctor, too. In order to save people`s need to visit a doctor, telemedicine offers many ways to do examinations at home.
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Image: Robot looks at huge amount of CT images of the brain; Copyright: panthermedia.net/phonlamai

AI in imaging: how machines manage our Big Data

02/09/2019

In modern medicine, especially in the field of imaging, huge amounts of data are produced – so much that radiologists can hardly keep up with diagnosing the images. Artificial Intelligence could be the solution to this problem. But how exactly can it help in this task? How can man and machine work together? And what else will be possible in the future with the support of intelligent systems?
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Image: Robot points with his finger at CT images of the brain, in the background a CT device; Copyright: panthermedia.net/phonlamai

Man vs. machine – the benefits of AI in imaging

02/09/2019

Radiology is a field that produces large volumes of data, which can no longer be managed without the help of intelligent systems. This is especially true when it comes to the interpretation of medical images. While this takes physicians years of training and experience, several hours of work and the highest level of concentration, AI only requires a few seconds to accomplish the same task.
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Image: DLIR image of the aorta; Copyright: GE Healthcare

Deep Learning Image Reconstruction – what AI looks like in clinical routine

02/09/2019

Artificial intelligence is no longer a dream of the future in medicine. Many studies and initial application examples show that it sometimes achieves better results than human physicians. At Jena University Hospital, the work with AI is already lived practice. It is the first institution in the world to use algorithms in radiological routine to reconstruct CT images.
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Image: CT image of the lungs with AI-supported automatic highlighting, quantification and measurement of anatomy and deviations; Copyright: Klinikum Nürnberg

AI in radiology: reliable partner for diagnosing CT images

02/09/2019

More patients, more examinations, more CT images – in radiology there is too much work for too few physicians. CT scans are evaluated in the shortest possible time, which leads to anomalies being overlooked. Artificial intelligence, on the other hand, works with constant speed and performance, which is why radiological routine increasingly relies on its support.
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Image: Participants of the German Medical Award 2018; Copyright: German Medical Award

German Medical Award

German Medical Award 2019 celebrates the future of (patient) care

22/08/2019

The German Medical Award will take place on November 18, 2019, as part of the MEDICA trade fair in Düsseldorf. The ceremony emphasizes the commitment to excellence in cutting-edge care for patients. Doctors, clinical centers and companies in the medical and healthcare industry can demonstrate their achievements in medicine and management in hopes of receiving the coveted award.
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Image: Laboratory situation - Prof. Popp shows a young man a small object in his hand; Copyright: Leibniz-IPHT/Sven Döring

Leibniz-IPHT/Sven Döring

Tumor excision: triple imaging for unique diagnostics

08/08/2019

After their tumor has been removed, some patients have to return to the hospital to undergo surgery again. That's because the tumor was not precisely identified and was subsequently not completely removed. That's both an ethical and financial dilemma. A new surgery-adjacent procedure is designed to rapidly and accurately detect tumors.
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Image: A greenly lit laboratory device; Copyright: Sven Döring

Photonics: "We want a rapid and easy method to identify pathogens and antibiotic resistance"

01/08/2019

The medical devices value chain has gaps between academic research and industrial practice that slow down innovation processes. This also applies to time-sensitive and urgently needed products such as rapid diagnostic tests to identify resistant pathogens. At the InfectoGnostics Research Campus in Jena, partners from research and medicine team up to close these gaps.
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Image: A physician wearing VR glasses. An image of the human heart floats in front of him in the air; Copyright: apoQlar

apoQlar

Virtual Surgical Intelligence: Microsoft Hololens in the OR

22/07/2019

Modern imaging opens news doors to surgeries. Yet it also poses major problems for surgeons: They use two-dimensional images to navigate through a three-dimensional surgical environment, while they continuously have to switch their focus back and forth between the images and the patient. Now help is on the way in the form of interactive 3D projections and mixed reality (MR).
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Image: Sports shoes of an athlete; Copyright: panthermedia.net/ Daxiao_Productions

Sports medicine - performance values in best health

01/07/2019

Those who integrate physical activities into their own lifestyle live healthier and more balanced. But where are the physical limits? Can health status measurements also be carried out on the road? Discover more about how sports medical examinations contribute to maintain performance and minimize health risks in our Topic of the Month.
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Image: Marathon runner; Copyright: panthermedia.net/adamgregor

Sports medicine – keep moving to stay healthy

01/07/2019

Physical activity plays a big role in today's society. Whether you are an amateur or professional athlete – incorporating exercise into your life positively impacts your mental and physical health. Ideally, sport should be fun, pressure-free and not overburden you. But can you measure individual performance and align it with sports?
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Image: Cyclist; Copyright: panthermedia.net/rcaucino

Performance diagnostics: success in sports – testing the limits of performance

01/07/2019

Stationary or mobile - competitive athletes rely on regular health assessments. They must deliver peak performance and be physically fit during competitions. But when do they reach their physical limits? Are there any devices that provide information, no matter where the test subject is located?
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Image: High jump of an athlete; Copyright: panthermedia.net/Moodbaord

Training and rehabilitation: fit thanks to hover technology

01/07/2019

Amateur and professional athletes are susceptible to sports injuries, balance disorders or deficits in motor function and posture. Prevention and the right training can help avoid these incidents, while targeted therapy can support a return to sports after an injury.
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Image: Boy with robotic gait trainer on treadmill; Copyright: panthermedia.net/olesiabilkei

Robotics – rehab with motors and sensors

03/06/2019

They work with power, precision and tirelessly. This makes robots an ideal instrument for rehabilitation. In gait or motor training, movement sequences must be repeated thousands of times so that they can be learnt anew. What tires the patient and costs the therapist's time can easily be managed by robot-assisted systems. Learn more about the possibilities of robotics in rehabilitation.
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Image: Boy uses robot arm in front of a monitor with computer game, next to it stands the therapist; Copyright: Helios Klinik Hattingen

Rehab with a robot – robot-assisted therapy in neurology

03/06/2019

It takes consistent repetitions if rehab patients want to relearn skills after surviving a stroke. This requires extreme effort. The industrial sector uses robots to perform repetitive tasks or handle jobs that require strength. What has been a fixture in factories for decades is now also making its way into rehabilitation facilities.
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Image: Woman uses robot arm to grab something on the table; Copyright: RWTH Aachen/RPE & inRehaRob

Of exoskeletons and service robots – the future of rehabilitation

03/06/2019

For most people, enjoying a good quality of life means having the ability to move freely, safely and independently. Intensive and costly rehabilitation is needed if this is no longer an option after a stroke for example. We are introducing some projects that deliver innovative robotic solutions.
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Image: Wrist with smartwatch, which measures the pulse rate; Copyright: panthermedia.net / Lev Dolgachov

panthermedia.net / Lev Dolgachov

mHealth: Atrial fibrillation detection – App supports heart health

08/05/2019

Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of persistent cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heart rhythm). Researchers estimate that 1.8 million Germans are presently affected by this disease. The condition is difficult to diagnose, frequently goes undetected and may result in a stroke. A new smartwatch medical app is designed to help patients detect atrial fibrillation before it’s too late.
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Image: Screenshot of the VR app: a small penguin sitting on the treatment table of the MRI device; Copyright: Entertainment Computing Group, Uni DUE & LAVAlabs Moving Images

Entertainment Computing Group, Uni DUE & LAVAlabs Moving Images

Gamification: how penguins help children overcome their MRI fear

23/04/2019

It's noisy, tight and scary - that's how children feel about a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine. Because they are scared, they are often too fidgety and anxious during the procedure, causing the images to blur or the scan to be stopped. Researchers have now developed a VR app called Pingunauten Trainer that’s designed to gently prepare the little patients for MRI scans.
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Image: Man during CT examination; Copyright: panthermedia.nt/Romaset

Stroke: 4D brain perfusion accelerates treatment

01/04/2019

In an ischaemic stroke, rapid treatment is essential. In this moment good imaging data is particularly important to enable doctors to make the best possible decision for therapy. Modern CT scanners are increasingly being used to assess stroke patients because they can show the blood flow to the brain over time.
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Image: Patient during an fMRI examination; Copyright: panthermedia.net/Chris De Silver

Functional imaging: what makes the brain tick?

01/04/2019

Our brain is the command center of our body. This is where all information and impressions are collected and converted into responses and movements. Modern imaging techniques offer physicians and researchers unique insights into the actions of the human central nervous system. The functional imaging technique allows them to watch our brain in action.
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Image: Lung monitoring of a patient with PulmoVista 500 by Draeger; Copyright: Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA

Restoring Pulmonary Function

01/03/2019

People suffering from lung disease temporarily need ventilator support because they are unable to breathe naturally. Mechanical ventilation is designed to ensure the survival of these patients. The goal is to adapt the ventilator settings and tailor them the patient's specific needs and prevent lung tissue damage.
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Image: senior coughing man with cigarette; Copyright: panthermedia.net/ljsphotography

All-round care for COPD: diagnosis, treatment, self-management

01/03/2019

COPD affects more than 200 million people in the world. Those affected by this chronic pulmonary disease are often slow to notice the symptoms and get a medical diagnosis. This results in secondary complications and high medical costs. That's why an early diagnosis, comprehensive treatment, and frequent monitoring are very important. Various devices and tools support this all-round care.
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Photo: Preview picture of video

Where imaging and radiation meet – Radiotherapy with the MR-Linac

13/02/2019

In conventional radiotherapy, the tumor is first localized using CT and MRT images in order to calculate the irradiated areas. The major drawback in this case: the subsequent radiation only shows bone structures in the body but not the tumor itself. As a result, the radiated area is often larger than necessary. In our video you will learn how the MR-Linac can be used for more precise radiotherapy.
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Image: Woman looks at the image of an injured soccer player on a tablet; Copyright: panthermedia.net/Wavebreakmedia Ltd.

panthermedia.net/Wavebreakmedia Ltd.

Sports medicine: preventing injuries with wearable sensors

08/02/2019

The consequences of sports injuries can be very serious and sideline athletes for a long time. Although it often seems like these injuries happen in a split second, they can also be the result of overuse and loads that usually weaken the athlete over time. This stress can be detected and reduced with wearable technology and injuries prevented before they happen.
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Image: Woman at the table operating a smartphone and surrounded by utensils for diabetes therapy; Copyright: panthemedia.net/Lev Dolgachov

Diabetes digital – smart support for diabetics

02/01/2019

Monitoring blood sugar levels, counting carbohydrates, calculating insulin doses, and keeping accurate records - diabetes is a data-intensive disease that demands a lot of self-discipline and attention from the patients. Some concerns are patients neglecting to keep a food journal, "fudged" test results or calculation errors. Digital solutions help patients easily manage the large volumes of data.
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Image: Glucometer next to a smartphone that shows the blood glucose level; Copyright: panthermedia.net/simpson33

DiaDigital: making sense of diabetes apps

02/01/2019

While they are very useful, health apps have one major drawback: anyone can release and distribute them unchecked. Only some apps require medical device certification. So how can users spot a great, safe and useful app? When it comes to diabetes apps, the “DiaDigital” seal of distinction is the answer.
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