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.
3D printing on the assembly line – iFactory 3D GmbH
16.11.2023
3D printing enables the individual production of single pieces and small series at low cost. However, it also has a disadvantage: printing takes a relatively long time and it is not possible to produce several pieces in succession with a single printer. At the MEDICA START-UP PARK at MEDICA 2023, we met a company that automates 3D printing. Find out how in the interview with iFactory 3D GmbH.
Precision sensing technology for enhanced sleep quality – Earable
16.11.2023
A good night’s sleep is a personal experience. The FRENZ Brainband by Earable is a wearable driven by AI, designed to cater to your unique sleep requirements. It combines real-time data analysis, intelligent audio content, and cutting-edge technology to ensure users are well-rested. We did not want to miss the chance to talk to Earable about their newest developments.
Innovative and accessible exoskeleton development – Project MARCH
15.11.2023
Project MARCH, a student team from TU Delft, is developing exoskeleton technology to improve the lives of people with paraplegia. Through an interdisciplinary approach and a commitment to innovation, they create designs that combine advanced technology with practical functionality. As they came to MEDICA 2023 as an exhibitor, we took the opportunity to interview them.
TEDIRO
Rehabilitation: THERY robot accompanies gait training on forearm supports
25.10.2023
It is 1.50 meters tall, weighs 60 kilograms, can reach a maximum speed of 0.8 meters per second and is called THERY. THERY is a mobile robot from the Ilmenau-based company TEDIRO, which enables patients to complete autonomous gait training on forearm supports without the assistance of a therapist.
EkaterinaPereslavtseva
Gamified pelvic floor training: fun motivation for a strong core
10.10.2023
Regular pelvic floor training can help in preventing incontinence, and often in resolving it. However, this requires consistent training over a period of months. It is therefore crucial to provide those affected with a permanently motivating form of training.
Courtesy of Faraz Faruqi and Stefanie Mueller
AI-driven tool to personalize 3D-printable models
20.09.2023
MIT researchers developed a generative-AI-driven tool that enables the user to add custom design elements to 3D models without compromising the functionality of the fabricated objects. A designer could utilize this tool, called Style2Fab, to personalize 3D models of objects using only natural language prompts to describe their desired design.
friends_stock
steptics: efficient and affordable manufacturing of sustainable foot prostheses
19.09.2023
Manufacturing high-quality foot prostheses from carbon or fiberglass is a complex and cost-intensive process. The founders of the start-up steptics have developed a method that automates this process. In doing so, they also rely on modern AI solutions with sustainability in mind.
Marius Maasewerd, HAWK
Orthobionics degree program qualifies specialists for orthopedics
01.08.2023
Starting from the winter semester of 2023, the Orthobionics program will launch a distinctive bachelor's degree. Geared towards the requirements of the orthopedic technology industry, they will be adept in independently providing care with modern orthoses and prostheses.
BarcelonaTech (UPC)
Low-cost robotic arm created by students as an alternative to conventional prostheses
25.05.2023
A low-cost robotic arm created by students as an alternative to conventional prostheses: The ARM2u biomedical engineering team, from the UPC’s Barcelona School of Industrial Engineering (ETSEIB), is working on new functions for their low-cost 3D-printed transradial prosthesis.
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.
Oana Graur
Patent: high-tech glasses replace guide dog
07.04.2023
The technology of “the glasses that replace the guide dog” has just been patented in the USA. The European Union patent will follow, and it could well be introduced to the market during the course of next year.
Caltech
‘Smart’ bandages monitor wounds and provide targeted treatment
03.04.2023
Most of the time, when someone gets a cut, scrape, burn, or other wound, the body takes care of itself and heals on its own. But this is not always the case. Diabetes can interfere with the healing process and create wounds that will not go away and that could become infected and fester.
Marco Binelli / ETH Zürich
3D-printed insoles measure sole pressure directly in the shoe
24.03.2023
Researchers at ETH Zurich, Empa and EPFL are developing a 3D-printed insole with integrated sensors that allows the pressure of the sole to be measured in the shoe and thus during any activity.
Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation
Contact lenses to treat dry eye syndrome
06.02.2023
A collaborative team from the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI) has developed a contact lens prototype that is specifically designed to prevent contact lens-induced dry eye (CLIDE).
AG Klinische Neurotechnologie, Charité Berlin
Controlling neural exoskeletons more precisely with diamond sensors
02.02.2023
In the recently launched NeuroQ lighthouse project, the project partners develop highly sensitive diamond-based quantum sensors that will enable paralyzed people to control neural exoskeletons more precisely.