Bernhard-Nocht-Institut für Tropenmedizin
Panadea Diagnostics: new start-up for better infection diagnostics
06.06.2023
"Get the right result, every time": the start-up Panadea Diagnostics has set this as the goal of its work. Operating since April 2023, the biotechnology company founded by researchers at Hamburg's Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM) develops special technologies for antibody detection of tropical and emerging infectious diseases.
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.
Knopka LLC/Movesense Ltd
Knopka LLC and Movesense Ltd: International cooperation forged at MEDICA
23.05.2023
Sometimes, it just about being in the right place at the right time: At MEDICA 2022, Knopka LLC from Ukraine and Movesense Ltd from Finland crossed paths. They immediately started a project together in a hospital in Lviv, Ukraine, that is now, roughly six months later, completed already.
bilanol
OptoCarDi: searching for new diagnostic options to assess the heart muscle
16.05.2023
The preparations for the OptoCarDi project at the EAH Jena and the Jena University Hospital (UKJ) are in full swing. Starting in June 2023, a research team led by Prof. Iwan Schie (Biomedical Engineering), Prof. Robert Brunner (Miniaturized Optical Sensor Systems) and the cardiologists Prof. Sven Möbius-Winkler and Prof. Christian Schulze will develop an optical catheter prototype.
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.
Messe Düsseldorf
With stem cell model on the trail of congenital diaphragmatic hernia
09.05.2023
Researchers have designed a new stem cell model to study congenital diaphragmatic hernia in newborns with underdeveloped lungs. They were able to isolate stem cells from the fluid that is suctioned from the baby’s lungs and normally gets discarded and use them as a foundation for the model.
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.
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.
svitlanah
BioDevCenter: biologicals are the future of medicine
27.04.2023
Not all advances in medical technology immediately catch your eye – take biologicals, for example. These are molecules that are biotechnologically designed for a specific application. In the German state of Baden-Württemberg, the Biologicals Development Center (BioDevCenter) and its infrastructure aim to bring them to market faster in the future.
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.
olgaseleznovaphoto
FALCO project: Comprehensive glaucoma prevention thanks to low-cost screening system
20.04.2023
Glaucoma is wicked, because the disease often goes undetected until irreversible damage of the optic nerve has occurred. This makes regular eye exams even more important. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an imaging method that facilitates an early diagnosis. However, traditional OCT machines are very expensive. That’s why the FALCO project aims to develop a more cost-effective system.
karrastock
CirculAid: funding for a circular economy in healthcare
17.04.2023
The health care system and its activities consume a lot of resources. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the existing problem due to the increased need for hygiene and protective equipment. Urgent action is needed to protect the environment and combat climate change by reducing consumption and improving resource efficiency.
BLINK DX
BLINK DX: revolutionizing digital PCR
11.04.2023
The polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, plays a major role both in the diagnosis of infectious diseases and in research. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the term has become widely known. At MEDICA 2022, the BLINK AG from Jena, Germany, presented the BLINK Beads, a technology that is bound to revolutionize the applications of PCR.
erika8213
AI meets zebrafish: is this the future of drug discovery?
04.04.2023
New drug candidates must undergo lengthy testing using animal models before being given to participants in human trials. This means many active ingredients must already be sorted out in test series because they either do not have the desired or even have an adverse effect. These test series require many test animals. The use of zebrafish larvae could lead to a reduced demand in this setting.
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.
Astrid Eckert / TUM
COVID-19 and beyond: a deeper look into the lungs with dark-field X-rays
28.03.2023
Imaging reaches its limits when it comes to looking at the lungs: Alveoli are tiny, balloon-shaped air sacs in our lungs. These tissue structures are micrometers in diameter and currently cannot be visualized directly. Meanwhile, they exhibit early changes prompted by lung diseases such as COVID-19. Dark-field X-ray images could visualize these signs in the future.
IndustryAndTravel
Hospital construction: challenging projects for good healthcare
17.03.2023
Building a hospital is a large project that involves many experts and countless workers and contractors. They are all coordinated to reach a common goal: a building that serves the wellbeing of patients. MEDICA exhibitor Axis Medical has a lot of experience with this – read more in our interview!
envato/photovs
Wearable belt: monitoring heart failure with sensors
14.03.2023
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.
Product design in medical technology
07.03.2023
Good design not only pleases the eye or the hand. It also guarantees intuitive and safe use and a long service life. Especially in medical technology, this can make a big difference – for staff as well as patients. Medical designers are therefore in great demand. At MEDICA 2022, we talked to two of them about their profession.
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.
Lorenz Assländer
Fall prevention with AR glasses
21.02.2023
Older people have a much higher risk of falls and serious injury arising from a fall. Researchers involved in the “Augmented Balance" project aim to develop augmented reality (AR) glasses to help improve balance and prevent falls.
Klinikum Oldenburg
Training: Learning to recognize delirium with the android patient
10.02.2023
Current patient simulators are mostly mannequins that can simulate vital functions via built-in electronics but are otherwise lifeless. An android patient could bring a breath of fresh air to training in the future. It can help hospital staff to better recognize delirium in patients and thus increase patient safety.
Wavebreakmedia
Muscles and nervous system: Space research helps combat degeneration
30.01.2023
Injuries do not just happen to athletes: along with surgeries, they are often the reason for prolonged bed rest. Meanwhile, extended physical inactivity can trigger changes in muscles and the nervous system. Sports medicine wants to counteract these negative effects and use insights from space research in the future.
mihacreative
Green Hospital: Carbon neutral thanks to sustainable technology
23.01.2023
In light of climate change, the healthcare industry is putting increasing emphasis on sustainability besides digitization and labor shortages. In the future, hospital facilities will be judged by their carbon footprint and their contribution to climate neutrality.
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.
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.
dasha11
SMART Start: Digitization in prenatal care
16.01.2023
Pregnancy means many prenatal visits. Regularly scheduled checkup appointments are important to help expectant mothers get ready for the healthiest pregnancy possible. The question is: Could some parameters be measured and monitored via smart devices from the comfort of one’s own home? The SMART Start project explores this issue.
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.
beta-web/Roth
Wound Viewer from Omnidermal: using AI to monitor wounds
01.12.2022
Caring for chronic wounds is a tedious task for caregivers and physicians, as these wounds take a long time to heal and may easily worsen. They also require a lot of documentation to plan and monitor treatment. With the Wound Viewer from Omnidermal Biomedics, a device is available that supports medical staff in this task.
beta-web/Roth
Wound treatment: printing instead of grafting
01.12.2022
Currently, wound care is limited to either waiting for wounds to heal while keeping them clean and free of infection or using grafts from the patient’s own body to cover larger defects. With the ongoing development tissue engineering and bioprinting, there could be a third option in future: Will we be able to print new tissue directly in the OR to cover surgical wounds?
9_fingers_
Electrical current to fight COVID-19: The intelligent electric pill
28.11.2022
In 2020, Prof. Eugenijus Kaniusas and his research partners hypothesized that stimulating the auricular vagus nerve has anti-inflammatory effects in severe COVID-19 cases. In 2022, they were able to confirm this hypothesis thanks to a clinical trial.
Listening for arrhythmias – Cardiokol ltd
17.11.2022
Atrial fibrillation increases the risk of stroke – especially in people older than 65. The Israel company Cardiokol offers software applications that enable mass tele-screening for AF. At MEDICA 2022, we met Co-Founder Eli Attar for a video interview. He explained to us how the solution of the company works.
Electrical stimulation for clinical and home use – EGZOTech Sp. z.o.o.
17.11.2022
Supporting patients in their rehabilitation and relieving physiotherapists – this is what EGZOTech from Poland wants to achieve with its EMS-based technologies. At MEDICA 2022, they explain to us how the company wants to make this possible.
Helpful hands redefined – Stäubli Tec-Systems GmbH
16.11.2022
Medical robots are on the advance: Highly precise, rigid or flexible, they also have to meet the criteria for sterile surgical conditions. At MEDICA 2022, we visit the stand of Stäubli Tec Systems and see for ourselves why robots can be the helping hand of surgeons.
Setting new standards in mobile X-ray – Solutions for tomorrow AB
16.11.2022
Instead of bringing the patient to the X-ray unit, would it not be better to bring the X-ray unit to the patient? Solutions for tomorrow is a med-tech company creating innovative products that change the X-ray experience for hospitals, clinics and patients. At MEDICA 2022, we took a look at it.
Safe and clean – Steelco S.p.A.
16.11.2022
Safe reprocessing of medical instruments is particularly important in laboratory or hospital operations. It is good to have a reliable partner who does not shy away from any challenge: Steelco S.p.A. offers efficient and versatile solutions for even the most specific customer requirements of equipment and systems for washing, disinfection, and sterilization. We learn more at MEDICA 2022.
Visitor voices 2022: Medicine at your fingertips
16.11.2022
Finally MEDICA is back and the halls are full! We wanted to know what makes the trade fair so special and interesting for visitors and why you should definitely make the trip to Düsseldorf. You can read the best answers in our photo gallery.
Safety for healthcare professionals – Owen Mumford Ltd.
15.11.2022
Occupational accidents also happen in medicine. One of the most common are injuries with cannulas and needles. These are not only painful, but also carry a risk of infection. At MEDICA 2022, Owen Mumford will be showing solutions for safe drug administration and blood collection. In the video interview, we also learn more about the company's sustainability goals.
Printed electronics for healthcare – Henkel AG
15.11.2022
Henkel is a name that many do not necessarily associate with medical technology. Nevertheless, the company can make an important contribution to digital healthcare. In our video interview, we find out what exactly this contribution looks like and why Henkel is exhibiting at MEDICA 2022.
Meeting point MEDICA 2022: Innovations, contacts and latest research
15.11.2022
The world of medicine meets again at MEDICA. A variety of high-quality, innovative products and exciting presentations as well as discussions in the forums make it a great event. This year, the trade fair again offers new ideas and developments on an international level. You can get a small insight in our photo gallery.
Pain therapy without medication – AURIMOD GmbH
14.11.2022
Chronic pain is a worldwide problem that continues to limit 30 percent of those affected despite treatment. With VIVO, AURIMOD GmbH is setting a new standard in pain treatment. In our video interview, we learn how this small device attached to the ear can provide pain relief.
pixelaway
Movement analysis with electromagnetic wave-based sensor technology
03.11.2022
Wearable technologies are widely used in today’s sports medicine. Whether they home in on a diagnosis or track people’s various parameters, wearables, and smart textiles are here to provide information and support. The MEDICA MEDICINE + SPORTS CONFERENCE will showcase some of the latest trends and research developments pertaining to sports medicine.
Messe Düsseldorf/C. Tillmann
RNA technologies make targeted immune activation possible
03.11.2022
MEDICA 2022 is right around the corner, ready to deliver insights into the advancements and innovations in laboratory medicine. One of the key topics of the MEDICA LABMED Forum is RNA technologies and the wide range of applications that involve cell biology. RNA technologies not only enable Covid-19 vaccines but promise an array of treatment options for genetic diseases, in and beyond oncology.
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.
envato/boomeart
Doinglab: Nutrition management with AI
02.11.2022
Watching your diet based on various health issues can sometimes be tiring. To make the process easier and help patients to monitor their intake, the start-up Doinglab developed an artificial intelligence technology that can recognize and understand food. FoodLens provides detailed information about the food with just a picture.
Wavebreakmedia
Breathe again: Diaphragm stimulation after prolonged mechanical ventilation
24.10.2022
For the past two years, the Greifswald University Medical Center has been collaborating in an international study in which a therapy using electrostimulation of the diaphragm is designed to wean patients off artificial respiration. The innovative system aims to achieve faster independence from the ventilator.
DyCare
DyCare: Safe and remote rehabilitation
18.10.2022
To treat musculoskeletal disorders physical therapy is often essential to help patients suffering from chronic pain. But following a patient’s progress in physical therapy can be difficult without a matching tool. To improve rehabilitation and further personalize treatment, DyCare developed a digital rehabilitation platform called ReHub.
M. Brombach | EKFZ
AI-supported medical device certification: "We want electronic approvals"
10.10.2022
The KIMEDS project aims to develop an AI-supported safety solution across the entire lifecycle of medical software to shorten the time from development to certification of innovative medical technology. The goal is to provide best medical care for patients, prompting a close project collaboration between science, industry, and regulatory authorities.
Madeleine Waltner
Actuators, sensors, controllers: The robot-assisted flexible endoscope combines all three
04.10.2022
The rise of robotics in medicine will result in more applications in this sector in the future. This necessitates the design of robotic systems that meet the requirements for the respective medical implementation. Scientists at the Institute of Medical Device Technology at the University of Stuttgart are developing the systems, components, sensors, and control technology to meet this demand.
GabiStock
Body follows head: Bridging the gap between rigid and flexible endoscopes
04.10.2022
A successful endoscopic intervention hinges on two key factors: the endoscope must have excellent maneuverability and high structural rigidity. Unfortunately, today's devices cannot meet both requirements at the same time. Tim-Lukas Habich wants to change that by bridging the gap between flexible and rigid robots.
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.
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.
DC_Studio
Diagnosing breast cancer through liquid biopsy
22.09.2022
Breast cancer diagnosis usually includes invasive testing with tissue biopsies. The samples have to be extracted from the cancerous tissue or cells. To make the process easier on the patients, the project LIBIMEDOTS is currently developing a different approach with liquid biopsy technology.
MediBioSense
MediBioSense: Real-time patient monitoring
01.09.2022
Medical wearables become more and more sophisticated. By now, they are not only able to record vital signs. With the Vital Connect Patch, MediBioSense is offering a wearable that can be used for real-time monitoring of patients.
MICROGEN@GMAIL.COM
Molecular markers: predicting the most effective treatment for IBD
09.08.2022
Early effective treatment can help manage this condition and improve the quality of life of patients. A research project aims to identify molecular markers to better assess the chances of success of certain biological therapies and subsequently determine the best individualized treatment plan.
westend61
Is it a heart attack or something else? How artificial intelligence can support diagnostics
22.07.2022
Chest pain, shortness of breath, a brief loss of consciousness – warning signs that suggest a heart attack. But it might also be Takotsubo syndrome, also known as stress cardiomyopathy or broken heart syndrome with symptoms that resemble a heart attack. Yet it is of utmost importance to differentiate between the two conditions to initiate the right treatment.
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.
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.
sportpoint74
Technology in sports – the importance of striking the right balance between unlimited power and powerlessness
08.06.2022
Wearables, smart textiles, or the oft-cited video assistant referee – technology has become an integral part of the professional sports world. But what happens when technology gains the upper hand?
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.
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.
3Digity
Finger orthosis: Custom fit with 3D printing
10.05.2022
Following an injury or surgery, orthotics are key components of the recovery and rehabilitation process. The University spin-off 3Digity designs 3D-printed customized finger orthoses to foster rehabilitation as custom orthotics can drastically speed up the recovery process.
Fraunhofer IST/Paul Kurze
Cold plasma: Contactless disinfection of surfaces
02.05.2022
One of the most time-consuming tasks in hospitals is the manual cleaning and disinfection of high touch points and surfaces such as door handles, buttons, and switches. These are areas where microorganisms are spread by direct skin contact. The “MobDi – Mobile Disinfection” research project is developing a robot that automatically cleans and disinfects these areas. It will use cold plasma.
Nico Arnold | diafyt MedTech
Managing diabetes with diafyt thanks to self-learning and smart technology
22.04.2022
We all make mistakes from time to time or forget to do things. But people with diabetes can have serious health problems if they miscalculate or inject the wrong insulin dose. A research team from the Dresden University of Technology (TU Dresden) and a startup from Leipzig aim to make living with diabetes easier.
PantherMedia / Marushy99
FFP2, N95, and KN95 masks: Does wearing them affect endurance and athletic performance?
08.04.2022
Does wearing a mask diminish athletic performance? Do we fatigue faster while wearing a face mask during exercise? Our subjective perception might suggest that a mask or face covering restricts us. A study by the University of Wuppertal explored the physiological effects of wearing KN95 or FFP2 (European Union standard) face masks.
PantherMedia / Wavebreakmedia
Treating chronic pain phases with an AI-powered app
05.04.2022
The treatment of chronic and acute pain phases centers on the patient’s pain profile. The treatment strategies must be flexible to facilitate customized adjustments. The AI-powered pain treatment solution by medicalmotion offers support and makes individualized exercise recommendations to manage the individual needs of pain patients with neuromusculoskeletal disorders.
TUM
Telediagnostic solutions: expert exams with no physical contact
01.04.2022
Applications of telemedicine surged in popularity in efforts to reduce the COVID-19 infection risk for both medical professionals and patients. Unfortunately, the services typically lack a proper diagnostic option.
PantherMedia/kleberpicui
Respiratory diseases: "AI helps patients track symptom severity"
01.04.2022
When they are presented with respiratory disease, physicians listen to the lungs and airways to assess the sound of the patient’s breath and cough. Artificial intelligence now helps patients with respiratory diseases even outside of the doctor’s office: "ResGuard Med" monitors coughing during the night, detects the worsening of symptoms and issues an alert.
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.
videoreality GmbH
Chronic pain: Virtual Reality helps alter pain perception
22.03.2022
The cause of chronic back pain can be hard to find. Pain sufferers are typically advised to embark on regular exercise, combined with physical therapy and pain management training to overcome potential psychological and emotional factors. Virtual reality applications could become an innovative treatment tool in this setting – targeting pain perception right in the brain.
PantherMedia / Andriy Popov
How prepared are we to treat patients with Long COVID?
15.03.2022
Most people who have been treated for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) recover completely within a few weeks. But for some people, symptoms can persist, requiring treatment for what is known as long COVID. The goal is to find better treatment options and implement them in rehabilitation centers.
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.
Single-use catheter reprocessing in electrophysiology
01.03.2022
Catheter ablation is a way to treat irregular heartbeats, or arrhythmias, like atrial fibrillation. Although catheters are classified as single-use or disposable devices, the complex instruments can be reused multiple times thanks to extensive reprocessing.
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.
PantherMedia/photographee.eu
Diagnostics as a service: stroke prevention with the dpv-ritmo system
01.03.2022
Atrial Fibrillation is the most common type of persistent heart arrhythmia, affecting around half a million Germans alone. People with atrial fibrillation have a greater risk for ischemic stroke, making early and effective treatment critical to prevent serious complications. Unfortunately, many patients don’t even know they have atrial Fibrillation.
PantherMedia / Fotofabrika
How to reduce plastic waste: innovative process promises recycling of single-use face masks
01.03.2022
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the use of disposable face masks. Discarding them has become an environmental challenge on a global scale. This has prompted the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Circular Plastics Economy CCPE and the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT to develop an innovative recycling process for used plastics.
Gabriel Salg/Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg
Using 3D printing to create insulin-producing cells
22.02.2022
3D printing opens a world of endless possibilities – for both industrial and medical applications. A cross-national project recently created tissue that produces insulin, spelling hope for patients with diabetes.
PantherMedia / Wavebreakmedia ltd
Better management of hospital resources in pandemic times through DNA measurement
15.02.2022
For nearly two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has kept a firm grip on the world and caused many intensive care units to hit full capacity. It would help medical professionals tremendously if they could make a reliable prognosis the moment patients are hospitalized. cfDNA screening could play an important role in the assessment of COVID-19 severity in patients.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
TU Hamburg/Institut Smart Sensors
Ballistocardiography: Cardiac monitoring of astronauts
24.01.2022
It is an exciting time for space exploration: Will there be more space stations, lunar outposts, or Mars missions in the future? No matter where they are in space, lack of gravity causes astronauts to lose muscle mass during their missions. Even the fittest among them lose heart muscle. An experiment on the International Space Station (ISS) plans to detect whether sensors show heart changes.
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.
PantherMedia / MyVector
Successful Strategies to Enter the Medical Market in Africa
11.01.2022
There are many factors to consider when you plan to enter the medical market in another country. Every country requires different market entry strategies – and countries in Africa are no exception.
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.
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.
Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Machine Perfusion: Increasing the Safety of Marginal Organ Transplants
03.01.2022
The shortage of donor organs is a major global issue. An aging population, a reluctance towards organ donation, and logistical challenges related to organ shipping play an important role in this setting. Machine perfusion can be a way to expand and preserve the donor pool for eligible transplant recipients.
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.
Hybrid rehabilitation – Interview with Titanis Sp. z o.o.
18.11.2021
Many people have delayed necessary therapies during the Corona pandemic, also in rehabilitation. But a regular treatment is especially important here to recover lost abilities and maintain existing ones. Hybrid, digital products that connect therapists and patients online can help. We learn more about this at MEDICA 2021 at the stand of Titanis Sp. z o.o.
Cardiology in the cloud – Interview with Cardiomatics Sp. z o.o.
18.11.2021
Analyzing ECG data means long, tiresome work for cardiologists, as they have to look for small indications of disease in a stream of data and recognize them correctly. Cardiomatics now brings them support from the cloud. We learn more about the AI that supports the diagnosis at MEDICA 2021.
New contacts, innovations and experiences – Exhibitor voices 2021
18.11.2021
Internationality, fresh ideas and innovative developments – MEDICA 2021. Exhibitors from all over the world contribute to making the trade fair an exciting event with high-quality and sophisticated products every year. Get an insight into the impressions and experiences of the exhibitors is this photo gallery.
Clear signals in uncertain times – Zimmer MedizinSysteme GmbH
18.11.2021
The Corona pandemic has put the brakes on the medical industry worldwide through logistic problems and contact restrictions. But despite the crisis, opportunities are still created and companies are still able to develop. We learn more about this at the stand of Zimmer MedizinSysteme at MEDICA 2021.
Relief through suitable nursing beds – Interview with Völker GmbH
18.11.2021
Everyday life in nursing care is often stressful. Nursing beds can help to make the day as pleasant as possible for staff and patients. Yvonne Risch, Managing Director of Völker GmbH, explains at MEDICA 2021 what influence nursing beds and other furniture can have.
New contacts, impressions and innovations - visitor voices 2021
17.11.2021
This year, MEDICA 2021 can once again look forward to many visitors. We asked some visitors why they visit the fair, for how many years they have been coming here and what they particularly appreciate about MEDICA. You can get to know them in our photo gallery.
Dermatologist via app – Interview with dermanostic GmbH
16.11.2021
Skin diseases can be recognized early, as they do not require invasive diagnostics. But still, many people do not visit a dermatologist – be it simply for time reasons, because they forget a check-up appointment or because they avoid doctors' offices during the corona pandemic. At MEDICA 2021, we learn how an app creates a connection between patient and dermatologist and makes diagnosis easier.
Neonatology MRI for the youngest – Interview with Neoscan Solutions GmbH
15.11.2021
To detect impairments in infants as early as possible, physicians often use MRI. However, with conventional models, infants usually need to be sedated and transported to other departments. Neoscan Solutions have developed an MRI specifically for neonatology. We learn more about it at MEDICA 2021.
MEDICA and COMPAMED 2021: Relaunch as hybrid events
12.11.2021
In 2020, MEDICA and COMPAMED took place as pure online events due to the corona pandemic. In 2021, the fairs will be arranged as hybrid events: on-site in Düsseldorf and complemented with additional online services. We talked to Christian Grosser, Project Director Health & Medical Technologies at Messe Düsseldorf, about this relaunch.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
PantherMedia/ArturVerkhovetskiy
Identifying risks before surgery - with simple means
08.10.2021
Risks during surgery, especially cardiological risks, are still very high in the Western world. However, conventional methods for measuring such risks before surgery are costly or even not always meaningful. And increasing economization in hospitals also makes it more difficult for staff to find time for a comprehensive pre-op analysis.
Image: The KUKA robot sorts blood samples according to the color of their cap; Copyright: LT Automation
Fast, accurate, automatic: Simplifying workflows with laboratory robots
01.10.2021
Unpacking and sorting of blood samples from general practitioners is a monotonous and time-consuming task. The Aalborg University Hospital has now automated the process: Up to 3000 blood samples every day are unpacked and sorted by two lab robots provided by LT Automation. Furthermore, the samples are temperature monitored and tracked, using the Intelligent Transport Boxes.
PantherMedia/Andriy Pipov
Everyday physical activity: out of shape thanks to the Corona pandemic?
22.09.2021
Social distancing, working from home, limited social activities: the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted many people to become more inactive, sedentary, and therefore more susceptible to ailments. Simple fitness programs and regular exercises can help counteract the negative effects of inertness. And paradoxical as it may sound, the pandemic also gives us the chance to get moving again.
Christian Morawe/Universitätsmedizin Magdeburg
Histotripsy: fighting tumors with microbubbles
08.09.2021
Focused ultrasound waves create microbubbles in a fluid – a phenomenon called cavitation. In a current study, this process is used to destroy liver tumors and metastases.
PantherMedia/I_am_Daniel
Running: how to prevent injuries with sensors and AI
01.09.2021
The most common injury that affects runners stems from overuse, not falls. Early warning signs include changes in motion. Successful injury prevention could pick up on this aspect by detecting and responding to these deviations at an early stage. It is the focus of the "Smart Injury Prevention" project.
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.
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.
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.
PantherMedia / benschonewille
Removing kidney stones thoroughly and without residue
13.07.2021
Kidney stones are a widespread disease. In order to be able to reliably remove even the smallest remnants of them, Purenum GmbH, a spin-off of Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM, developed a gel that encloses small fragments and can then be removed without leaving any residue. This year, the product mediNiK was certified and is thus ready for the market.
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.
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.
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).
PantherMedia / HayDmitriy
Point-of-care ultrasound helps in emergency diagnosis
01.06.2021
Medical emergencies require quick action and prompt decisions: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a valuable diagnostic tool available to the emergency physician. Rather than relying on his/her gut feeling, the device answers specific clinical questions that narrow differentials. The question is, in which settings does POCUS deliver the biggest benefits?
Point-of-care tests: rapid diagnosis in emergency situations
01.06.2021
In emergency medicine, a faster diagnosis leads to a faster treatment of the patient. Point-of-care test solutions can provide immediate on-site insights into the patient’s condition. COVID-19 adds another dimension: the devices can provide a level of security and safety – one that goes beyond intensive care.
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.
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.
How to Successfully Advance Digital Health Applications
03.05.2021
The benefits of digital health applications are numerous and include the flexibility to self-monitor your illness from home with a mobile device. One caveat: Digital health applications must abide by technical and legal frameworks to be recognized as such.
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.
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.
PantherMedia / Andrew Lozovyi
Digital healthcare: The point-of-care is shifting
21.04.2021
In this interview with MEDICA-tradefair.com, Lina Behrens explains how Flying Health helps its clients develop new business models and gives an outlook on the future of healthcare.
Williamson Adams
Detecting atrial fibrillation early with mobile rhythm patch
08.04.2021
According to a study, a mobile rhythm patch can help detect and prevent strokes. In this interview with MEDICA, co-study leader Prof. Rolf Wachter explains how the mobile rhythm patch works and which insights the study results provide for the future.
Surgical planning with immersive mixed reality
01.04.2021
The job of surgeons starts long before they step into the operating room. They must use two-dimensional MRI or CT scans to plan the surgical steps on a three-dimensional patient, relying on their experience, skill, and spatial sense. Using mixed reality (MR) to view human anatomical models allows for better visualization and navigation.
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.
PantherMedia/ryanking999
Coronavirus: "A pandemic is a behavioral phenomenon"
31.03.2021
At the virtual.MEDICA 2020 trade fair, Prof. Dirk Brockmann delivered the keynote address in the MEDICA CONNECTED HEALTHCARE FORUM on digital epidemiology, which got a big boost thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. It can help us understand how human behavior influences the course of the pandemic.
PantherMedia/Med_Photo_Studio
Alzheimer's disease: early detection using an eye exam
22.03.2021
Alzheimer's disease is still incurable, but if detected early enough, countermeasures can improve treatment and slow the progression. Unfortunately, there is still no reliable early detection test at this juncture. This might soon change thanks to a non-invasive spectroscopy of the retina.
PantherMedia/Sorapop Udomsri
Motion analysis: wearable sensors versus laboratory
17.03.2021
In professional sports, motion analysis helps improve an athlete's performance and avoid injury. The process is complex and therefore conducted in dedicated laboratories. At the virtual MEDICA MEDICINE + SPORTS CONFERENCE 2020, Prof. Stephan Odenwald explained how motion analysis could become more widely accessible in the future thanks to mobile, wearable sensors.
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.
Miama: transparent face mask uncovers facial expressions
01.03.2021
Over 50% of our communication is made up of facial expressions and gestures. Nonverbal communication is especially important to deaf or hearing-impaired people or people with dementia. A conventional mask makes this more difficult, may promote miscommunication and contribute to medical errors in extreme cases. Yet it is paramount to use a mask amid this pandemic. Miama helps solve this problem.
Disinfection: antibacterial coating on surfaces in the ICU
01.03.2021
All hospitalized patients are susceptible to contracting a nosocomial infection, with ICU patients being particularly at risk. The effects of these hospital-acquired infections are often more dangerous than the original reason for the in-patient hospitalization. The "PACMAN" project is now testing an antimicrobial coating for frequently used contact surfaces at high risk of pathogen transmission.
Evercot AI GmbH
Good connection: AI and EEG work hand in hand
17.02.2021
Artificial intelligences (AI) are able to help medical professionals detect diseases. This is based on medical data records from which the AI can draw conclusions about diseases. These conclusions are most accurate when the extraction of the data sets is directly linked to the processing.
ZHAW/Hannes Heinzer
Self-disinfecting mask: germ-free at the push of a button
08.02.2021
Disinfection and masks are essential to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Swiss scientists from ZHAW and Osmotex AG have now combined the two and developed a mask that disinfects itself at the push of a button. It is to be launched on the market as early as this spring.
PantherMedia/sielemann
Medical devices: hygienic design combats pathogens
03.02.2021
Medical hygiene does not just play a key role during the COVID-19 pandemic. Preventing the transmission of infectious diseases and especially the spread of multidrug-resistant organisms is paramount even in non-pandemic times. While hygiene practices in hospitals and medical offices are essential, the industry can also make an important contribution with hygienic product design.
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.
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.
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.
Fraunhofer IBP
Covid-19: protective canopy prevents infection
19.01.2021
The risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 is particularly high indoors. This is because, in addition to smear and droplet infection, infection via aerosols that accumulate and spread in the air is also possible there. Sufficient air exchange or air purification help to prevent this. The protective canopy developed by Fraunhofer IBP also follows such an approach.
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.
Breathe a sigh of relief with Respia
01.01.2021
There are many different kinds of mobile devices to help people with chronic diseases. Asthma is one of those diseases, which can be monitored with wearables to improve everyday life. Especially for parents, the stress and anxiety which come with asthma-afflicted children can be reduced with a reliable solution like Respia.
Vivatmo me: monitor your asthma treatment at home
01.01.2021
Allergic asthma is a chronic disease that makes regular monitoring essential to keep it under control. This is the only way to determine whether the prescribed medication is effective or whether the patient needs a treatment adjustment. Vivatmo me is a breath analyzer device for home use and helps keep asthma patients safe and confident between visits to the doctor.
PantherMedia/chanawit
Atrial fibrillation: better outcomes with diamonds
15.12.2020
Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots and trigger strokes. To correct the condition, physicians use medication or surgical intervention by means of catheter ablation. This surgical method on the beating heart is a standard and safe procedure but there is always room for improvement.
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.
"Cells are highly sensitive" – material development for bioprinting
01.12.2020
The big hope of bioprinting is to someday be able to print whole human organs. So far, the process has been limited to testing platforms such as organs-on-a-chip. That's because the actual printing process already poses challenges. Scientists need suitable printing materials that ensure the cell's survival as it undergoes the procedure. The Fraunhofer IGB is researching and analyzing this aspect.
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.
The medical technology industry and the pandemic – a close look at market numbers
16.11.2020
Does the medical technology industry profit from the corona pandemic? Partly yes, but at large, it also suffers through this crisis. This is one of the topics that the industry association SPECTARIS addresses during virtual.MEDICA 2020. Marcus Kuhlmann talks about this and other topics in our video interview.
Universität Oldenburg/Abteilung Neuropsychologie
Wearable EEG: A comfortable way to record brain activity
09.11.2020
An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a test that is used in cognitive research or to diagnose conditions such as epilepsy and sleep disorders. EEG electrode caps are somewhat difficult to wear, which is why they are only used in laboratories. One viable alternative are measuring devices made of printed electronics. They are more comfortable to wear and allow users to continue their daily activities.
Sustainable Nonwoven Solutions Improve Hygiene
02.11.2020
Whether it is hospitals or care homes - the right hygiene tools are crucial for process efficiency. These products can be composed of a wide variety of materials. NORAFIN offers a sustainable solution with products made from nonwoven fabric.
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.
PantherMedia/sudok1
AI predicts a patient's risk of postoperative complications
22.10.2020
Whether it is a routine surgery or a personalized surgical intervention that perhaps has never been done before: There is always a residual risk involved. That’s why hospitals monitor and supervise patient care before, during, and after surgery to be ready for immediate intervention if needed.
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).
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.
PantherMedia/belahoche
Bionic prosthesis: easy to put on, intuitive to use
22.09.2020
Patients who receive a prosthesis after the amputation of a limb often have to train for weeks or months until they can control the technology and use it in everyday life without problems. At the Medical University of Vienna, the world's first bionic prosthesis has now been developed that has a closed control loop and enables immediate, intuitive use.
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.
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.
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.
VitalSky: how an artificial sky improves ICU patient recovery
03.08.2020
Delirium occurs in 30 to 80 percent of patients in intensive care units. This cerebral impairment not only causes mental confusion and emotional disruption but also drastically increases the mortality risk of patients. A controlled circadian rhythm and sleep/wake cycle is the prerequisite for delirium prevention. This is where the new VitalMinds concept from Philips comes in.
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.
Fraunhofer IPT
Personal protective equipment: ramping up medical mask production to 50,000 pieces per day
22.07.2020
Necessity is the mother of invention: While many companies have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, some were able to find the hidden business opportunities the unique situation has created. One example of how companies can benefit from the Covid-19 crisis is the production of medical protective gear.
Fraunhofer IBMT/Foto Bernd Müller
epiLab: Coronavirus testing in the mobile safety laboratory
08.07.2020
A key to preventing SARS-CoV-2 spread is frequent, comprehensive testing. This allows the early detection of infections and helps break the chain of infection. It always comes down to Coronavirus testing capacity. In Germany's southwest state of Saarland, the mobile epiLab (epidemiological laboratory) supports the search for infections lurking in nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
PantherMedia / ImageSupply
How Hospitals Can Foster Environmental Sustainability
01.07.2020
When it comes to their environmental impact, hospitals present a challenge, yet can boost opportunities at the same time. They are an environmental burden due to a higher energy use resulting from frequently outdated technology. However, once they are modernized and switch to a sustainable concept, they can turn into a "green hospital".
Green Hospital: not only ecological, but holistic sustainability
01.07.2020
The REGIOMED Klinikum Lichtenfels is the lighthouse project of the "Green Hospital Initiative Bayern" (Bavarian Green Hospital Initiative), which launched in 2014 and aims to increase energy efficiency and promote sustainability in Bavarian hospitals. Lichtenfels took things one step further by constructing an optimized new building where sustainability is an integral part.
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.
PantherMedia / inhabitant
Mobile stroke units: improved outcomes for ischemic stroke
02.06.2020
If someone is having a stroke, you call an ambulance. But getting to the hospital can be time-consuming. To prevent long-term disabilities and death, patients need to be treated as quickly as possible. According to a recent study by the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, mobile stroke units play a key role in this setting.
Molecular Imaging: fast and reliable stroke detection
02.06.2020
After a stroke, a patient’s life depends on getting acute care at a hospital. Vital monitoring systems ensure safe and effective treatment. An innovative tomographic imaging system is designed to help prevent the patient’s risky journey to radiology and to enable bedside monitoring of cerebral blood flow.
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.
Robotic-Assisted Surgery with the daVinci-System
04.05.2020
Robotic surgical systems are often used to perform minimally invasive procedures. The daVinci surgical system is still one of the market leaders and is especially well suited to perform prostatectomies, a surgical option for prostate cancer.
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.
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.
Disinfection methods of hospital drinking water - Fully automatic legionella prevention
31.03.2020
Besides hand hygiene, drinking water hygiene is also on the to-do list of every hospital. A lot of money is invested to clean water pipes and to destroy legionella germs. An alternative solution for mechanical and thermal control is water disinfection using an automatic machine.
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.
panthermedia.net/draoscondreaw
Sensor-Based Smart Glove Enables Parkinson's Diagnosis
25.02.2020
Neurological disorders like Parkinson's are often diagnosed once the disease has already progressed to a later stage. The VAFES project was initiated to facilitate an early detection. Sensor technology and VR are used in the creation of a playful test system.
Dagmar Braun
Much-needed medical technology: a hospital for Togo
10.02.2020
If life has given you many blessings, you should share them with others – and you also need to be a little crazy. That's Dagmar Braun's point of view. She initiated the construction of a hospital in Togo, Africa. The country currently lacks the system required to deliver comprehensive medical care. Surgical equipment and gynecology devices are much-needed to compensate for these deficits.
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.
panthermedia.net/phonlamai
A new type of endoscopy – small, easy, comfortable
22.01.2020
Patients have to undergo a gastroscopy to rule out gastrointestinal conditions. Many dread this procedure since a thin, flexible tube is being pushed through the esophagus and stomach. Ovesco Endoscopy AG has teamed up with other project partners in the nuEndo research project to develop a capsule endoscopy device that is tiny, easy to swallow and makes the test more comfortable for the patient.
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.
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.
beta web GmbH/Melanie Prüser
Single-use tests: sensitivity and easy use combined for diagnostics
12.12.2019
Diagnostic testing usually takes some time and a sterile environment to get the results. To cut down on the costs and effort spend on these tasks there are different diagnostic tests. One of them are single-use tests offered by SensDx S.A. The technology behind them not only makes the process faster and easier, but provides the opportunity to expand into home use in the future as well.
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.
Robot assisted hippotherapy – Interview with intelligent motion GmbH
20.11.2019
Nobody will expect to meet horses at MEDICA. Even though, visitors can learn more about hippotherapy that is aimed at patients with neurological deficits – for example through MS or in rehabilitation after stroke. Better yet, they can take a seat at a horseback themselves. This is possible thanks to “hirob” here at the stand of the intelligent motion GmbH from Austria.
For a strong back – Interview with Spine Care Technologies
20.11.2019
Anyone sitting too long, working at a computer or moving the wrong way has to deal with them regularly: back pain. At MEDICA 2019, Spine Care Technologies is presenting an alternative to conventional pharmaceuticals.
Better perception for young and old – Interview with MediTECH Electronic
19.11.2019
Perception varies from person to person. However, there must be a certain basis so that everyday life can be mastered without problems. Whether for young or old people, for medical practices or for use at home - hearing, balance and the ability to learn, can be trained with the products from MediTECH Electronics. We learn more about these innovations at the exhibitor's stand at MEDICA 2019.
panthermedia.net/olanstock
Cardiac diagnostics – prompt and personalized
08.11.2019
If physicians suspect an acute myocardial infarction, they first order an ECG. This test is very established and allows cardiologists to quickly diagnose acute heart attacks – though the test does not detect less common heart attack symptoms. So far, those patients had to wait up to twelve hours before a heart attack could be accurately diagnosed or ruled out. But things are about the change.
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.
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.
panthermedia.net/kasto
Cardiac Tissue Engineering: a heart out of the Petri dish
23.09.2019
For patients waiting for donor organs, every day can mean the difference between life and death. Making things even more complicated is the fact that not every organ is a compatible match with the patient. It would mean enormous progress if we could grow organs from the patient's own cells in the lab. That's why patients with heart disease place big hope in tissue engineering.
panthermedia.net/Daxiao Productions
Triathlete Sebastian Kienle: wearables and body awareness improve athletic performance
09.09.2019
A 2.4-mile (3.86 km) swim, a 112-mile (180.25 km) bicycle ride and a marathon 26.22-mile (42.20 km) run – that’s the Ironman Triathlon. Triathletes like Sebastian Kienle are constantly working to push beyond their limits. At the 7th MEDICA MEDICINE + SPORTS CONFERENCE on November 20 - 21, you can meet Kienle in person.
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.
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.
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).
Medtronic
VISUALASE: epilepsy surgery with the laser catheter
11.06.2019
Epilepsy patients are currently treated with either medication or surgical options. The aim is to remove the distinct regions of the brain that cause epileptic seizures. Laser ablation for epilepsy is a new, catheter-based surgical procedure that is now also available in Europe, preventing patients from having to undergo open brain surgery.
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.
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.
panthermedia.net/adriaticphoto
Cardiac arrhythmia: treatment in the linear accelerator
08.04.2019
Cardiac arrhythmia is a group of conditions where nerve cells trigger uncontrolled contractions of the heart muscle. They are treated with either medicine or catheter ablation of the tissue. In an interdisciplinary collaboration, cardiologists and radiotherapists took a different approach and used high-precision radiation therapy to treat a patient for whom the other options proved unfeasible.
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.
Brain mapping: preoperative planning with functional MRI
01.04.2019
A surgery already begins before the patient is lying on the operating table – namely with the planning. For example, if brain surgery is imminent, the brain must first be mapped. This makes the activity level of certain brain areas visible. Functional magnetic resonance imaging makes this possible.
Sven Delbeck/Fachhochschule Südwestfalen
Blood Sugar Monitoring: Using Infrared Instead of Invasive Techniques
22.03.2019
Over six million people in Germany have diabetes. It is estimated that almost 400 million people are affected by this disease worldwide. Diabetes sufferers must prick their fingers several times a day to monitor their blood sugar.
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.
Comprehensive Treatment: It’s All About Breathing
01.03.2019
Coughing, airway obstruction, difficulty breathing: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an umbrella term used to describe progressive and currently incurable lung diseases. The innovative solutions of Philips Respironics help patients to manage each stage of the disease and their medication intake, train the respiratory system and provide respiratory support.
Fraunhofer ITEM/Till Holland
Gentle medication for the little ones – with every breath
22.02.2019
According to the WHO, ten percent of babies worldwide are born prematurely. Since most organs of these tiny babies have not fully developed yet, it can quickly lead to complications and disorders and most notably affect the lungs of the premature infants. What's more, infections require gentle treatment, as the preemies themselves are fragile and susceptible – making this a challenging situation.
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.
Organ-on-a-chip systems: limited validity?
01.02.2019
Organ-on-a-chip systems are technically a great enhancement of medical research because they facilitate testing of active ingredients on cell cultures in the chambers of a plastic chip. This replaces animal testing and improves patient safety. That being said, they are not a true-to-life replication of the human body and can only simulate a few functions and activities.
Multi-Organ Chips – The Patients of Tomorrow?
01.02.2019
The liver, nervous tissue or the intestines: all are important human organs that have in the past been tested for their function and compatibility using animal or in vitro test methods. In recent years, TissUse GmbH, a spin-off of the Technical University of Berlin (TU Berlin), has launched multi-organ chip platforms. But that’s not all.
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.