MEDICA: Surgery, Implants & Prostheses
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Image: The Aurora system on an operating table; Copyright: umg/samer al mhethawi

umg/samer al mhethawi

For the first time: defibrillator with sternum electrode implanted

09.12.2024

A defibrillator with a sternum electrode was implanted for the first time at University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG). The Aurora System provides a gentler alternative to conventional therapies for sudden cardiac arrest, offering new perspectives particularly for specific patient groups.
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Image: Medical plate to assist with securing the surgery field; Copyright: Osaka Metropolitan University

Osaka Metropolitan University

Simplified approach to securing the surgical field with a plastic device

22.11.2024

Robot-assisted heart surgeries traditionally require an assistant to ensure the surgeon has adequate room to maneuver the robotic arms through small incisions. To address this dependency, researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University have developed a surgical field expansion plate that offers surgeons greater independence during procedures.
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Image: Specialists in the operating theater insert a hearing implant; Copyright: University Medicine Halle

University Medicine Halle

Extra-flat hearing implant expands application possibilities

21.11.2024

A team from the University Medicine Halle has been involved in the development of an extra-flat, bone-anchored hearing system for many years. Prof. Stefan Plontke performed the first regular implantation of the new device following its approval for clinical use. In an interview with MEDICA-tradefair.com, he presents the new development together with Prof. Torsten Rahne.
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Image: Surgery in process to implant a device; Copyright: University of Chicago Medicine

University of Chicago Medicine

Revi neuromodulation: A new approach to UUI treatment

03.10.2024

UChicago Medicine recently performed the first implantation of the Revi neuromodulation device in Illinois. This minimally invasive procedure offers a novel treatment option for patients suffering from urinary urgency incontinence (UUI). The Revi device aims to improve bladder control without the side effects or limitations of existing treatments.
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Image: Man holding stretched 3D-printed material with purple gloves; Copyright: Casey Cass/CU Boulder

Casey Cass/CU Boulder

3D printed custom implants for the heart

05.09.2024

Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder, in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania, have developed an advanced 3D printing method to create materials that support human tissue effectively. This new approach could lead to significant improvements in personalized medical implants and tissue repair.
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Image: Miniature, implantable LED device on the palm of a hand; Copyright: University of Notre Dame

University of Notre Dame

LED Implant: A new approach to deep-seated cancer treatment

08.08.2024

A team of engineers and scientists at the University of Notre Dame has developed a wireless LED device that can be implanted to treat deep-seated cancers. This device, when combined with a light-sensitive dye, not only destroys cancer cells but also activates the immune system to target the cancer. The research findings were published in Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy.
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Image: A person in a white coat explains the human heart with the help of an anatomical model. The model shows the inner structure of the heart in detail.

From permanent to resorbable: self-dissolving stents as heart implants

02.08.2024

Cardiology is increasingly transitioning from traditional metal stents to self-dissolving stents for the treatment of coronary heart disease. These new magnesium stents have the potential to improve the treatment and outcomes for a large patient population.
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Image: Illustration of a knee with the synthetic plug to treat pain; Copyright: Texas A&M Engineering

Texas A&M Engineering

Synthetic plugs offer an alternative to total knee replacements

05.06.2024

Dr. Melissa Grunlan, a professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M University, is developing synthetic plugs to treat chronic knee pain and disabilities, offering an alternative to total knee replacements. This project is funded by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, a part of the National Institutes of Health.
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Image: Man holding the new absorbable stent close to the camera; Copyright: Karin Kaiser/MHH

Karin Kaiser/MHH

Advancements in Cardiac Treatment: MHH's Deployment of Self-Dissolving Stents

31.05.2024

At the forefront of cardiac care, the Department of Cardiology and Angiology at Hannover Medical School (MHH) has introduced a novel treatment method using self-dissolving stents.
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Image: Two people in a laboratory setting running tests and scanning qr-codes; Copyright: IGTP

IGTP

Cardiac bioimplants for heart attack treatment

13.05.2024

A recent study highlights the safety and effectiveness of PeriCord bioimplants, derived from umbilical cord stem cells, for regenerating heart tissue post-myocardial infarction.
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Image: Elderly man with glasses and light green top holds his hand to his aching neck

Neurostimulation: Inceptiv™ fighting chronic neuropathic pain

19.04.2024

Neurostimulators play an important role in the treatment of chronic pain conditions. They use targeted electrical impulses to modulate pain signals. The Inceptiv™ neurostimulator from Medtronic is an example of a treatment solution for chronic neuropathic pain. It can offer sufferers a significant improvement in their quality of life.
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Image: Two researchers smile into the camera as they present a model of a leg bone with a long, slender metallic implant attached to it; Copyright: Oliver Dietze/Saarland University

Oliver Dietze/Saarland University

Bone fracture healing through smart implants with micro-massage

09.04.2024

Saarland University presents a breakthrough in medical technology: smart implants that not only stabilize bone fractures, but also actively promote the healing process.
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Image: Microscopic view of human skin tissue with the top layer of epidermal cells and underlying dermal layers stained in different colors for examination; Copyright: TERM/UKW

TERM/UKW

The potential of nasal cartilage in knee joint treatment

05.04.2024

At the University Hospital Wuerzburg, a promising new treatment for knee joint defects involves the use of nasal cartilage, and it's edging closer to approval with significant EU funding. The new method is using autologous cartilage from the nasal septum, an approach that may seem as enchanting as the term "ENCANTO" implies.
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Image: A bladder implant consisting of a small stretchable sensor with a green implantable box as base station; Copyright: Northwestern University

Northwestern University

A wireless bladder monitoring device

03.04.2024

A new medical device developed by researchers at Northwestern University might soon offer individuals with bladder dysfunctions a way to monitor their condition in real time, thanks to a groundbreaking implant and accompanying smartphone app.
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Image: This image shows the electrodes of the CI cap which is put on a patient´s head. Three hands are coating the electrodes with contact gel; Copyright: Karin Kaiser / MHH

Karin Kaiser / MHH

Better diagnostics for enhanced hearing with cochlear implants

23.02.2024

A research team from Hannover Medical School (MHH) and the University of Oldenburg is delving into the intricate processes of how the human brain adapts to electrical hearing through cochlear implants (CIs). The study, part of the Hearing4all Cluster of Excellence, aims to shed light on the diverse mechanisms influencing speech comprehension among CI users.
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Image: Anatomical model of the human heart on a desk, next to it the hands of a cardiologist can be seen – reBeat cardiac support system; Copyright: Unai82

Unai82

reBEAT: mechanical heart support of the future

06.02.2024

With "reBEAT", the Munich-based start-up AdjuCor has developed a novel system for cardiac support and successfully implemented it together with the Cardiac Surgery Clinic at Hannover Medical School (MHH). It works by providing direct mechanical support without direct blood contact. This makes implantation easier and the system safer.
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Image: Cardiac catheterization laboratory with a doctor standing in front of the examination table in the middle of the picture; Copyright: HDZ NRW

HDZ NRW

Piccolo: Heart umbrellas with a big impact

19.12.2023

"After the procedure, Jonah was a different child, the improvement was immediate. He turned 180 degrees in the right direction," says his mother Ania. On June 22 of this year, the boy underwent an effective procedure in the cardiac catheterization laboratory at the Heart and Diabetes Center NRW (HDZ NRW) in Bad Oeynhausen when he was just six months old.
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Image: Robotically controlled rotating magnetic field to control the millirobot wirelessly through an aorta and kidney; Copyright: University of Twente

University of Twente

Miniature marvels: wireless millirobots successfully navigate arteries

18.12.2023

For the first time ever, wireless millirobots navigated a narrow blood vessel both along and against arterial flow. Researchers from the University of Twente and Radboudumc inserted the screw-shaped robots in a detached aorta with kidneys where they controlled them using a robotically controlled rotating magnet.
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Image: Close up: orthopaedic implant made from titanium-tantalum; Copyright: NTU Singapore

NTU Singapore

Singapore: advancing 3D printing in healthcare with joint R&D lab

11.12.2023

Singapore General Hospital (SGH) patients are expected to benefit from healthcare innovations, such as customised medical devices and implants, under a collaboration with Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) to set up a Joint Research & Development Laboratory in additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing.
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Image: A printer applies the dopamine-based tissue adhesive to the three-dimensional titanium shaft of a hip joint; Copyright: Fraunhofer CMI

Fraunhofer CMI

Inspired by mussels: printable adhesives for tissues and bones

08.12.2023

Titanium hip implants do not last forever — they gradually loosen, sooner or later losing their hold on the bone as it recedes over time. Researchers at the Fraunhofer IAP have been working alongside the Fraunhofer IGB and the Fraunhofer CMI to develop a tissue adhesive that can help avoid early replacement of prostheses in the future.
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Image: A man with gray curly hair, posing in jeans and a sweatshirt in a passageway; Copyright: Tomáš Belloň / IOCB Prague

Tomáš Belloň / IOCB Prague

Computer model of the ear may help to improve cochlear implants

01.12.2023

Professor Pavel Jungwirth and his colleagues from the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences and the cochlear implant company MED-EL, based in Austria, have come up with a complete computer model of the ear. It can be used to simulate hearing of mammals including humans from the outer ear all the way to the auditory nerve.
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Image: An artist’s impression of a GELECTO machine interacting with biological cells via sending and reading of electrical and biochemical signals; Copyright: Leibniz-IPF, Ivan Minev

Leibniz-IPF, Ivan Minev

New era of cyborganics – Prof. Ivan Minev receives ERC Consolidator Grant

30.11.2023

Over the next five years, the ERC will provide two million euro of funding for the development of a new class of electronic components that consist almost entirely of water and could make the interface between biological tissue and machine seamless.
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Image: Close-up shot of hearing researcher Yanjing Luo wearing a mask and gown. She holds the ear canal implant in her hand; Copyright: Desktop Health

Desktop Health

MHH produces world’s first patient-specific implants with drug release

22.11.2023

For the first time, the ENT clinic at Hannover Medical School (MHH) has provided an adult patient with a customized implant for the external auditory canal featuring drug release benefits.
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Image: An older man and his granddaughter look at a photo album together on a couch; Copyright: bialasiewicz

bialasiewicz

Parkinson's: New hope when treatment options seem exhausted

20.11.2023

As Parkinson's disease progresses, more invasive therapies are used that require brain surgery, for example. When these no longer deliver the desired results, physicians often conclude that treatment options are exhausted.
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Image: Follow-up examination: Professor Duncker checks whether the implanted device is working.; Copyright: Karin Kaiser / MHH

Karin Kaiser / MHH

New device against sudden cardiac death

10.11.2023

Hannover Heart Rhythm Center at MHH implants Germany's first innovative defibrillator with an electrode under the sternum.
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Image: Close-up of a human gray blue eye; Copyright: David Callahan

David Callahan

Eye implant may be used to treat diabetes

27.10.2023

Researchers in Sweden have developed a microscale device for implantation in the eye, which presents new opportunities for cell-based treatment of diabetes and other diseases.
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Image: Dr Bastian Schmack (left) and Professor Dr Arjang Ruhparwar demonstrate how the plastic bag of reBEAT encloses the heart; Copyright: Karin Kaiser / MHH

Karin Kaiser / MHH

The most natural form of mechanical cardiac support?

26.10.2023

On the road to gentler mechanical cardiac support, the cardiac surgery clinics of Hannover Medical School (MHH) and the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne (UK) have briefly implanted a novel, groundbreaking circulatory support system in the first five people with advanced heart failure in the world.
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Image: Professor Duncker stands in front of a screen and shows the new electrodeless pacemaker; Copyright: Karin Kaiser / MHH

Karin Kaiser / MHH

Cardiology: novel pacemaker without electrodes

25.10.2023

The Department of Cardiology and Angiology at Hannover Medical School (MHH) is one of the first hospitals in Germany to offer implantation of the new innovative AVEIR VR pacemaker.
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Image: A starch implant photographed in microscopic image; Copyright: Uni Halle / Esfahani Golbarg

Uni Halle / Esfahani Golbarg

Pharmacy: Using starch as a novel drug transporter?

30.08.2023

A special type of starch could soon be used as an excipient in medicine to improve the treatment of patients.
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Image: Close up of yellow electrodes; Copyright: drazenphoto

drazenphoto

Electrotherapy without surgery is possible

28.08.2023

Researchers at Lund University and Gothenburg University have successfully developed temporary, organic electrodes that can be seamlessly integrated into biological systems.
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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: A man with dark hair and a white shirt inspects a 3D printer; Copyright: Patrick Mansell/Penn State

Patrick Mansell/Penn State

High-speed bioprinting of bones, tracheas, organs

28.07.2023

Developing technology to quickly and efficiently bioprint human tissues at scale is the goal of a new project led by Penn State researchers. When fully developed, the technology will be the first to enable the fabrication of scalable, native tissues such as bones, tracheas and organs.
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Image: Physiotherapy in the upper back with TENS electrode pads, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation; Copyright: microgen

microgen

Electrodes: 4D printing for nerve stimulation

25.07.2023

Specific nerves may be stimulated artificially, for example to treat pain. The finer the nerves, the more difficult it is to attach the required electrodes. Researchers have now developed flexible electrodes produced with 4D printing technology. On contact with moisture, they automatically fold and wrap themselves around thin nerves.
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Image: Patient wearing a prosthetic arm directly attached to the skeleton and neuromuscular system; Copyright: Chalmers University of Technology

Chalmers University of Technology

Bionic hand: surgical and engineering innovations enable unprecedented control

21.07.2023

For the first time, a person with an arm amputation can manipulate each finger of a bionic hand as if it was his own. Thanks to revolutionary surgical and engineering advancements that seamlessly merge humans with machines, this breakthrough offers new hope and possibilities for people with amputations worldwide.
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Image: Researcher Carles Mas and doctoral students Patricia López and Nerea García working with several samples as part of the Bio-TUNE project in a lab; Copyright: BarcelonaTech (UPC)

BarcelonaTech (UPC)

Medical implants: new generation of antibacterial materials

23.06.2023

The UPC’s Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering Group (BBT) leads the international project Bio-TUNE, which aims to develop multifunctional materials with high antibacterial potential and efficient tissue integration.
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Image: Woman with glasses and gray-brown hair, Carole Planchette, stands by a pillar; Copyright: Fotogenia - Renate Trummer

Fotogenia - Renate Trummer

Tissue Engineering: TU Graz revolutionises production of biocompatible microfibres

02.06.2023

Using a newly developed method for the efficient and cost-effective production of biocompatible microfibres, the production of autologous skin and organs can be significantly accelerated. Responsible for the development are Carole Planchette and her team from TU Graz.
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Image: A silver medical device with a large display on a table in a physician's office; Copyright: NIMBLE Diagnostics SL

NIMBLE Diagnostics SL

Imaging: monitoring cardiovascular stents with microwaves

30.05.2023

A cardiovascular stent may fail after implantation. Patients with arteriosclerosis then must undergo angiography again. The condition of the stent is examined or a new stent is placed during this procedure. Barcelona-based company NIMBLE Diagnostics is now working on an easier method to monitor stents after implantation.
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Image: PhD student Maja Struczynska with the model of a single fibrinogen molecule; Copyright: Jens Meyer/Uni Jena

Jens Meyer/Uni Jena

Specially coated titanium reduces risk of clots on prostheses

26.05.2023

An international research team led by the german University of Jena has now developed a promising approach to significantly reducing blood clotting on the heart valve material titanium.
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Image: Prof. Dr. Thomas Scheibel and Vanessa Trossmann in a laboratory for the microscopic examination of cell structures; Copyright: UBT / Chr. Wißler.

UBT / Chr. Wißler.

Regenerative medicine: cell-specific properties of novel spider silk materials

12.05.2023

Materials made of spider silk can be specifically modified or processed in such a way that living cells of a certain type adhere to them, grow and proliferate. This has been discovered by researchers at the University of Bayreuth under the direction of Prof. Dr. Thomas Scheibel.
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Image: A transparent miniaturized muscle implant lies on a black table; Copyright: Fraunhofer IBMT

Fraunhofer IBMT

Human-machine interface stops muscle tremors

10.05.2023

Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT have been working with international partners to develop a technology platform to help relieve the symptoms of muscle tremors.
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Image: Prof Giuseppe Intini in a blue sweat jacket, smiles at the camera; Copyright: Giuseppe Intini

Giuseppe Intini

New approach helps skull bones mend themselves

24.04.2023

In a new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, University of Pittsburgh researchers developed a novel approach that promoted bone regeneration in mice without implantation of bone tissue or biomaterials.
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Image: Group picture of the representatives of Nimble Diagnostics (thirteen persons); Copyright: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech (UPC)

Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech (UPC)

Stent implants: Nimble Diagnostics closes financing round of one million euros

10.04.2023

NIMBLE Diagnostics, a spin-off of the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), the UPC and the University of Barcelona (UB), has successfully closed a funding round led by Grow Ventures, together with Namarel Ventures and the Inveniam Group, that has secured more than one million euros.
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Image: Dr Ioana Slabu and Benedict Bauer with the nanomodified stent fot he camera; Copyright: Peter Winandy

Peter Winandy

Novel technology for hollow organ tumour therapy

10.04.2023

Ioana Slabu from the Institute of Applied Medical Technology and Benedict Bauer from the Institut für Textiltechnik of RWTH Aachen University have developed a novel technology for the therapy of hollow organ tumours, which was awarded second place in the RWTH Innovation Award.
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Image: Coronary artery disease surgery using off-pump technique Operation in the operating room; Copyright: photovs

photovs

Complex coronary artery disease: Stenting with close look inside blood vessel improves outcomes

10.03.2023

Patients with complex coronary artery disease who underwent a stenting procedure guided by intravascular imaging were nearly 40% less likely to die of heart disease, have a heart attack caused by a new blockage in the treated artery or need a repeat stenting procedure in the treated artery, compared with similar patients.
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Image: Close up of professional doctor hands operating on a patient during open heart surgery in operating room; Copyright: bilanol

bilanol

Minimally invasive mitral valve repair reduces hospitalizations and deaths

08.03.2023

In patients with heart failure and a poorly functioning heart valve, a minimally invasive procedure using a clip to repair the valve was safe, cut the rate of hospitalizations for heart failure by 47% and reduced deaths from any cause by almost 30% after five years of follow-up.
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Image: A man in fine striped shirt with glasses, Prof. Dr. med. Tobias Moser, smiles at the camera; Copyright: MBExC/spförtner

MBExC/spförtner

Optical cochlea implant: ERC Proof of Concept Grant for Tobias Moser

02.03.2023

In the ImageTox project, the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) and the CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security are pooling their expertise in the fields of drug discovery and artificial intelligence (AI).
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Image: Nose surgery performed on a woman; Copyright: GabiStock

GabiStock

ENT surgery – Interventions for speech and hearing

27.02.2023

Speaking and hearing are the two most important abilities that connect humans to their environment. If they get limited through disease or injury, it is all the more important to restore them as broadly as possible. Depending on the cause for their limitation, there are different surgical treatment possibilities. We take a look at current methods in our Topic of the Month.
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Image: Man is grabbing his throat with one hand, touches the larynx; Copyright: towfiqu98

towfiqu98

Vocal cord paresis: surgical treatment to reverse paralysis

27.02.2023

The paralysis of the vocal folds, the vocal fold paresis (also known as vocal cord paralysis) is a condition in which most patients cannot control the movement of the muscles that control the voice. This can make it hard to speak, prompting a reduction in speech volume that makes it challenging to understand the person. Some patients may even have difficulty breathing.
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Image: Close up x-ray film of a broken finger; Copyright: Rawpixel

Rawpixel

Packaged DNA: new method to promote bone growth

17.02.2023

DNA can help to stimulate bone healing in a localised and targeted manner, for example after a complicated fracture or after severe tissue loss following surgery.
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Image: A digital model of an arm: Coordinated stimulation from the microimplants helps with executing hand movements.; Copyright: WILDDESIGN GmbH, Gelsenkirchen

WILDDESIGN GmbH, Gelsenkirchen

A new generation of microimplants

09.02.2023

Miniature assistants can act as a stimulus in cases of tinnitus or digestive tract disorders or help a person’s hand to regain the ability to grip.
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Image: An elderly man sits at an eye diagnostic device and is examined by a doctor; Copyright: Beachbumledford

Beachbumledford

Controlled manufacture, storage and freezing of artificial retinal cells

25.01.2023

Fraunhofer researchers have now developed a new method for the production and clinical application of stem-cell-based retinal implants, which could contribute towards the successful treatment of AMD.
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Image: Usability testing of the fixator with a bone; Copyright: Imperial College London

Imperial College London

Affordable device for fixing broken bones piloted in Gaza, Sri Lanka and Ukraine

20.01.2023

Imperial researchers have developed a low-cost, easy-to-manufacture stabiliser for broken bones to help in regions where such devices are expensive or in short supply and people sometimes resort to homemade options.
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Image: A patient is examined and measured for seated knee extension speed, quadriceps strength, knee range of motion, and knee pain; Copyright: Osaka Metropolitan University

Osaka Metropolitan University

Total knee arthroplasty: Faster knee for better walking

19.01.2023

Osaka Metropolitan University scientists have revealed that knee extension velocity while seated is a stronger predictor of walking performance than muscle strength in elderly patients after their total knee arthroplasty (TKA) surgery.
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Image: Physical therapists examine the results of knee surgery. The bandage is removed from the knee; Copyright: wutzkoh

wutzkoh

Older knee replacements as good as newer models, study shows

16.01.2023

Older knee replacement designs are just as effective as newer models – according to new research from the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and University of East Anglia.
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Image: Preview picture of video

Fibers for fibers – Textile implants repair the body

08.06.2022

We are nowadays already able to weave implants out of artificial fibers that can replace tissue or heal injuries. Different materials like polymers or nitinol are used to create flexible shapes. But the materials and their uses can still be improved.
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Image: OR where a patient undergoes eye surgery; Copyright: Universitätsklinikum Bonn (UKB)/J.F. Saba

Universitätsklinikum Bonn (UKB)/J.F. Saba

Retina chip: Implant helps with age-related macular degeneration

01.03.2022

People who suffer from partial or total loss of vision caused by illness must use assistive technology to replace their sense of sight. In recent years, implants offered hope of restoring limited functional vision. Now an innovative microchip designed to help with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is currently undergoing international testing.
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Image: A person in a white t-shirt is holding an anatomical model of the kidney in front of their abdomen; Copyright: PantherMedia/benschonewille

PantherMedia/benschonewille

Technology against organ shortage – Support for the successful transplant

03.02.2022

The waiting time for a donor organ is long nowadays since the need for organs vastly exceeds their availability. But we have possibilities to improve the situation and help as many people as possible to survive despite organ failure: Some organ functions can already be substituted by technology. But medicine is also researching ways to make more organs available for transplant.
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Image: Image showing part of an ECMO machine – a square part through which blood is channeled; Copyright: PantherMedia/Richmanphoto

PantherMedia/Richmanphoto

COPD: How long before the implantable lung is here?

03.01.2022

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is often a last resort treatment for patients with acute respiratory failure. The method uses an external pump to circulate blood through an artificial lung back into the bloodstream. However, the use of ECMO for long-term support is not possible for patients with chronic respiratory failure.
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Image: Man with a bare upper-body is showing an implanted cardiac support system; Copyright: PantherMedia/NikD51

PantherMedia/NikD51

Donor organs: Solving the shortage with technology

03.01.2022

Patients waiting for a donor organ must have a lot of patience and a bit of luck. Aging and a rise in chronic disease prevalence means the need for donor organs is much greater than the number that is available. To help those who need organ transplants, scientists must create new technologies.
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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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Image: A signal receiver and a transmitter of a Cochlear implant on the palm of a person; Copyright: PantherMedia/npudov

PantherMedia/npudov

Implants: When technology makes sense – quite literally

01.12.2021

Disease, injury, or a condition you were born with – reasons why some people must live without one or several of their five senses. Fortunately, there are many modern sensory aids that help replace one sense with another, which is especially the case when it comes to vision and hearing. Given technology's advancements, can artificial or biological implants someday soon be a viable alternative?
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Image: Face and eye of a young woman in a close-up shot; Copyright: PantherMedia/Meseritsch Herby

PantherMedia/Meseritsch Herby

Implants for the senses – Hearing and seeing with technology

01.12.2021

We can replace certain functions of the body with implants nowadays, others we cannot. When it comes to the human senses, we are still quite at the beginning. The technologies and materials we can use are way to coarse compared to our nervous system. But implants can also help us to maintain senses.
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Image: Illustration of the way an optical Cochlear implant functions; Copyright: UMG

UMG

Cochlear implants: Using light to improve hearing

01.12.2021

Cochlear implants are devices that partially restore hearing in wearers. Unfortunately, the signal transmission from the implant to the auditory nerve is still rather basic, thus limiting the sound quality. Future implants could be more accurate in this setting by using light versus electrical pulses to stimulate nerve cells in the ear.
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Image: Preview picture of video

Deep Brain Stimulation – Measuring electrodes against Parkinson's disease

23.08.2021

We cannot heal Parkinson’s disease yet, all we can do is alleviate the symptoms. One possibility to do this are implantable electrodes that stimulate part of the brain and counteract the characteristic tremor. In our video, Prof. Cordula Matthies and Prof. Jens Volkmann from the University Hospital Würzburg explain how this stimulation can be targeted better with a new electrode generation.
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Image: A female physiotherapist is helping a woman during an exercise with a therapeutic rubber band; Copyright: PantherMedia/photographee.eu

PantherMedia/photographee.eu

Stroke rehabilitation: regaining arm movement with nerve stimulation

09.08.2021

Stroke rehabilitation exercises are essential to regain mobility and strength in the body. Each patient recovers lost skills and function differently. A recent study has now examined how vagus nerve stimulation with electrical impulses during stroke rehab could improve arm mobility.
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Image: A very small, very flat silver device on the palm of a hand; Copyright: Vibrosonic GmbH

Vibrosonic GmbH

A contact lens for the ear

15.07.2021

Excessive noise, hearing loss, vascular constriction, old age – hearing difficulties can be caused by many factors. To help improve the quality of life of people with hearing impairment, Mannheim start-up Vibrosonic have developed a new, innovative hearing aid with an integrated loudspeaker that sits directly on the eardrum.
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Image: A skull of a pig whose bones have been set using a white mass; Copyright: Daniel Hutchinson

Daniel Hutchinson

Fracture setting method could replace metal plates

02.07.2021

A new biocompatible polymer-based composite material could soon replace metal plates in treating difficult and unstable fractures. Developed at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, the newly-developed material is as strong as dental composites yet non-toxic.
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Image: Preview picture of video

Smart implant – Healing fractures autonomously with smart materials

07.06.2021

Lower leg fractures put a great strain on patients due to their long healing process. In the future, an intelligent implant could control how the bone grows together again and thus optimize the healing process. In our video, you can learn from the developers at Saarland University how this works and what role artificial intelligence plays here.
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Image: artificial ventilation at a hospital room; Copyright: PantherMedia / ParStud

PantherMedia / ParStud

Making biohybrid lungs implantable

25.05.2021

Diseases can affect the lungs in different ways that can be challenging. If the lungs are badly damaged and artificial ventilation (also called artificial respiration) is no longer effective, an ECMO machine comes into play. Right now, artificial lungs reside outside the body and cannot be implanted.
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Image: A man wearing a VR headset is holding a surgical instrument that is attached to a robotic arm; Copyright: Dynamic HIPS

Hip replacement: virtual surgical training with haptic technology

01.04.2021

Surgeons have only limited options to practice surgical techniques before they enter the operating room. The implantation of an endoprosthesis requires extensive practical training since it necessitates strength and utmost precision. The "Dynamic HIPS" project develops a virtual reality hip implant simulator that provides realistic haptic feedback.
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Image: A group of researchers is discussing a chemical structural formula in front of a whiteboard; Copyright: PantherMedia/depositedhar

Intelligent implants: when the material is the key to the solution

01.02.2021

Today we use implants to stabilize or compensate for injuries inside the body and to aid in the healing process. Implants cannot act autonomously and treat the patient if they deem it necessary. However, it is just a matter of time before this happens because research on intelligent implant materials that respond to stimuli is on the cusp of a breakthrough.
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Image: Artist’s rendering of small star-shaped machines between red blood cells; Copyright: PantherMedia/Michael Osterrieder

Autonomous medical devices: running well in your body

01.02.2021

In theory, autonomous medical technologies can be used in a diagnostic or therapeutic capacity inside the body under certain conditions. This may not sound like a new invention at first. After all, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators have monitored and fixed abnormal heart rhythm for many years.
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Image: Artist’s rendering of small robots with grapplers and searchlights that swim between red blood cells; Copyright: PantherMedia/Andreus

Autonomous medical technology: independently in the body

01.02.2021

Therapies need to be carried out with high reliability by trained personal. This will not change in the future. But maybe we will be able to let systems in the patient’s body do some of the work. Some approaches are already aiming to make implants more independent so they will be able to flexibly react to changes. Read more in our Topic of the Month!
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Image: Two small, angular-shaped, electrical devices that are held with tweezers; Copyright: Fraunhofer EMFT/Bernd Müller

Tumor therapy: drug delivery pump instead of injection

01.02.2021

Drugs always have undesired side effects. Cytostatics are powerful drugs used to treat cancer. They reach almost all cells in the body, killing healthy cells as well as cancer cells in the process. A targeted delivery to the specific cellular site would be a gentler treatment.
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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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Image: Two knees of a woman next to each other, the left knee has a surgical suture; Copyright: panthermedia.net/wujekspeed

Regenerative medicine: creating a new body?

03.02.2020

Regenerative medicine aims to repair the human body after injuries, accidents or major cancer surgery. Unfortunately, we are still not at a stage where this process can achieve optimal results for every conceivable situation. Having said that, various new methods are on the cusp of breakthrough.
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Image: cemented artificial hip endoprostheses; Copyright: panthermedia.net/coddie

Endoprostheses: regaining independence and mobility

01.01.2020

Joints can suddenly or gradually deteriorate and lose their natural strength, whether it’s due to accidents, diseases or simple wear and tear. In some of these cases, implants of artificial joints – endoprostheses - can help. As a joint replacement, they are designed to stay in the body for as long as needed and as such improve the patient’s quality of life and mobility.
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Image: patient with pain in fingers; Copyright: panthermedia.net/Milkos

APRICOT-project: implant "help(s) patients heal themselves"

01.01.2020

Today, people tend to live longer, while an increasing number of patients suffer from osteoarthritis. Even younger generations are now at a higher risk of getting osteoarthritis due to the frequent use of mobile devices. The EU research project APRICOT aims to develop a novel type of implant for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the hands – helping patients heal themselves.
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Image: Athlete with knee pain; Copyright: panthermedia.net/Wavebreakmedia Itd

Endoprostheses: between possibility and reality

01.01.2020

When natural joints lose their ability to function, they can be completely or partially replaced by artificial joints, also called endoprostheses. Endoprostheses must be of a certain quality, as they should remain in the body as long as possible. In addition to some risks, endoprostheses can also contribute to a mobile and carefree life for young and old.
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Image: Leg implants; Copyright: panthermedia.net/ monstArrr

panthermedia.net/ monstArrr

Orthopedic implant: More comfortable thanks to full weight-bearing capacity

08.03.2019

Orthopedic implants – they are a necessity when it comes to congenital or acquired limb length discrepancies. However, full weight-bearing during the limb lengthening process is not feasible with previous implant models. For the first time, the 3D Surgery division at the Medical Center of the University of Munich has succeeded in using an implant that facilitates immediate weight-bearing.
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Image: Preview picture of video

Endoprostheses - Ultrasound to detect loosening?

27.02.2019

Many patients suffering from arthrosis or other kinds of damage in the hip joint need an endoprosthesis at some point. However, this prosthesis can loosen again after some time, so that it must be replaced. In order to delay this replacement surgery for as long as possible, the TH Mittelhessen University of Applied Sciences develops a new diagnostic method.
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