11/12/2024
Researchers at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology Empa have developed nanoceramic microstars that enable the transport of active ingredients into the skin via micro-bursts. In an interview with MEDICA.de, Dr. Michael Stuer describes the new development, which is to be used by an industrial partner for the treatment of skin diseases.13/11/2024
Saint-Gobain Medical Corporation brings their cutting-edge solutions in medical technology to COMPAMED 2024. From high-precision silicone molding to specialized catheter systems, their solutions are designed to improve patient safety, device performance, and treatment outcomes.08/11/2024
The Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM has developed alternatives to perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) that can also be used in medical technology. PFAS, known as the “poisons of the century”, are difficult to break down and will be banned in the EU in the future.02/10/2024
The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research (IAP) and the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) are developing 3D printing inks with the body's own cartilage cells for personalized cartilage implants. The research is intended to create new treatment options for cartilage damage and strengthen the innovative power of Lusatia.28/08/2024
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP have developed an innovative, PFAS-free polymer membrane that represents an environmentally friendly alternative to the PFAS-containing membranes previously used in the semiconductor industry.21/08/2024
When Otto Schott, Ernst Abbe and Carl Zeiss founded the Schott & Genossen glass technology laboratory in 1884, none of them dared to dream how the company would develop. Today, Schott AG is one of the most important technology groups for the manufacture of specialty glass and glass-ceramics and one of the most important exhibitors at COMPAMED.20/08/2024
Precise and durable materials are of crucial importance in modern medical technology. A key material in this area is steel, which is used in various forms and alloys to meet the strict requirements of medicine.15/08/2024
Imagine standing on the threshold of the future of medical technology – a world in which tiny machines achieve great things, intelligent materials adapt to the needs of patients and robots redefine the limits of what is possible. With the Hot Topics, COMPAMED 2024 in Düsseldorf offers unique showcases of these fascinating developments.22/07/2024
Local drug delivery over a longer period of time: this is one of the challenges that doctors face when treating wounds and inflammations. Empa researchers have now developed a promising solution: “liquid core fibers” that contain drugs inside them and can deliver them precisely over a longer period of time.10/07/2024
With the development of the Fraunhofer Dynamic Mixing Technologies (FDmix) platform, the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Systems and Design Technology IPK and FDX Fluid Dynamix GmbH have achieved a milestone in nanoparticle production.02/07/2024
With the development of the Fraunhofer Dynamic Mixing Technologies (FDmix) platform, the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Systems and Design Technology IPK and FDX Fluid Dynamix GmbH have achieved a milestone in nanoparticle production.11/06/2024
There is new hope for patients with narrowed coronary arteries: a self-dissolving stent has been implanted for the second time worldwide at Hannover Medical School (MHH). This innovative stent, which dissolves over time once it has done its job, promises considerable advantages over conventional vascular stents, especially for younger patients.10/06/2024
They monitor, transmit and control – sensors in medical technology. Hardly any device can do without them. For most people, their health at some point in their lives will depend on whether sensors are doing their job properly. But how diverse are their applications in medical devices?08/05/2024
An innovative 3D printing process is breaking down traditional manufacturing boundaries and opening up unimagined possibilities from aerospace to medical technology: laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). In our interview, Tim Lantzsch from the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT explains current applications of this promising additive manufacturing technology.08/05/2024
The trend towards sustainable products and materials is also finding its way into medical technology. With the new GreenLine product range, Ottobock, one of the leading providers of medical technology solutions, offers prosthetists and orthotists and their patients innovative solutions that combine the need for more ecological materials with consistent functionality.06/05/2024
Researchers at the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) have developed a plasma printing technology that enables the precise modification of surfaces on an extremely small scale.02/04/2024
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research together with the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (IGB) and the Fraunhofer USA Center for Manufacturing Innovation have developed a tissue adhesive based on the model of the mussel. The printable dopamine-based tissue adhesive can even be printed on curved, uneven surfaces.28/03/2024
Cutting-edge AI technology is improving the field of materials science, particularly in the quest for sustainable energy solutions. Researchers at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Japan have developed an evolutionary AI technique that accelerates the discovery of high-performance materials crucial for green hydrogen production.21/03/2024
Yonglong Xie, Rice University physics assistant professor, receives the NSF CAREER Award, a $888,555 grant, fueling his research on magnons, quantum entities in magnetic materials, to revolutionize quantum technology. Xie's work shapes future quantum devices and sensors.18/03/2024
Researchers at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC) have developed a thermosensitive hydrogel with multifaceted applications, including seawater desalination using solar energy and the creation of advanced biomedical adhesives for semi-invasive therapies and medical diagnostics.04/03/2024
Who are the people behind medical technology? You can meet them 11 to 14 November 2024 at COMPAMED in Düsseldorf. Visit the leading international marketplace for the medical suppliers’ industry and product development and get excited!08/02/2024
Researchers from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have made significant progress in developing high-energy-density all-solid-state batteries, aiming for commercialization. Their latest research focuses on the design and synthesis of stable solid electrolytes, crucial for safer and more efficient lithium battery technology.21/12/2023
Researchers at Fraunhofer IZM have now managed to develop a system that can automatically measure propagation losses in integrated optical waveguides, all part of the research project “Integrated Electro-Photonic Panel Systems” (EPho).14/12/2023
From conversations with friends or colleagues to plays and lectures – modern hearing devices enable many people to participate in everyday life. However, the smallest components are needed to ensure that the devices function optimally and cause as few complications as possible for the users. Let’s take a look at the microtechnology in these hearing aid devices.14/12/2023
A better understanding of muscle activity patterns in the forearm supports a more intuitive and natural control of artificial limbs. This requires a network of 128 sensors and artificial intelligence based techniques.12/12/2023
A single strand of fiber developed at Washington State University has the flexibility of cotton and the electric conductivity of a polymer, called polyaniline. The newly developed material showed good potential for wearable e-textiles.07/12/2023
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.06/12/2023
PFAS filters available for industrial waste are usually made of activated carbon (PFAS = perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl compounds). As this is comparatively expensive, researchers are looking for alternative filter materials for the so-called "eternal toxins", whose hazardous residues only degrade very slowly in the environment.30/11/2023
Prof Dr Klaus Kümmerer from Leuphana University Lüneburg and his colleague Prof Dr Hans-Josef Endres from Leibniz University Hanover want to develop a sustainable recycling model for the plastics industry.28/11/2023
After a bone fracture, some patients experience healing disorders. To enable effective treatment in these cases, the Fraunhofer Institute IFAM (Germany) is researching a new composite material for use in the operating theater as part of the SCABAEGO joint project.22/11/2023
Researchers from Göttingen and Karlsruhe have developed a new treatment approach for pancreatic cancer. The innovative method promises to be able to treat the disease in a more targeted way and with fewer side effects in the future. The therapy is now to be optimized for clinical application as quickly as possible.09/11/2023
A broken bone failing to heal represents an enormous burden for patients. Fraunhofer researchers have worked alongside partners to develop a composite material to be used in the treatment of such non-union cases. The resulting implant is designed to significantly improve treatment success rates and speed up the healing process.01/11/2023
In the field of medical design, constant development is required: from the design of medical devices to components and materials to new production processes. In this video, engineer Joris Bellens and business developer Lukas Stabel explain how the Belgian company Comate develops state-of-the-art products from the initial idea to the market-ready product.31/10/2023
Despite highly specialized methods that can simultaneously produce a range of materials on a single sample and then measure them automatically, every minute counts when analyzing them: because days or even weeks can pass before the characterization of a sample is complete. The new algorithm can be integrated into existing measuring instruments to boost their efficiency significantly.31/10/2023
The intended European Union ban on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is causing discussion throughout Europe. Many companies in the medical technology sector fear that they will no longer be able to reliably manufacture products as before. We talked to expert Dr. Martin Leonhard, who chairs the medical technology section of the German industry association SPECTARIS.19/10/2023
Scientists from the department Living Matter Physics at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPI-DS) developed a general theorem to calculate the minimal energy required for the propulsion of a microswimmer.17/10/2023
Producing new plastic by advanced recycling of post-use plastic (PUP), instead of fossil-based production, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and increase the U.S. recycling rate, according to research by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory.11/10/2023
Researchers at the Fraunhofer IWM, in collaboration with Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG, have developed a deep learning model that enables objective assessment of the grain size in steel.05/10/2023
Within the joint project KODOS (funding reference 13N14607), funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, a solution for in-line process monitoring and mapping of process parameters was developed with SURAGUS GmbH at Fraunhofer FEP.03/10/2023
Continuous monitoring of sweat can reveal valuable information about human health, such as the body’s glucose levels. However, wearable sensors previously developed for this purpose have been lacking, unable to withstand the rigors or achieve the specificity needed for continuous monitoring. Now, the research team has created a novel wearable patch that may be up to the task.28/09/2023
Trends such as Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things are making the precise recording of the condition of machines and components increasingly important. To face the challenges in collecting sufficient data, the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT has developed a sensor infrastructure for smart industrial applications and implemented it using additive manufacturing processes.19/09/2023
Recycling instead of disposing sounds easy. But where are the difficulties and what opportunities exist for the industry to become more sustainable, despite strict safety regulations?14/09/2023
Researchers have invented a nano-thin superbug-slaying material that could one day be integrated into wound dressings and implants to prevent or heal bacterial infections.07/09/2023
A research team from the Department of Materials Science at Kiel University (CAU) has now developed a new material based on a hydrogel that functions similarly to a muscle. The soft material can be reduced and enlarged in a controlled manner within a short time and could thus take on motion tasks in soft robotics, for example.05/09/2023
Linnaeus University is partnering with industry and healthcare to develop advanced biosensors, investing SEK 35 million in a project aimed at faster and cost-effective diagnoses of aggressive lung cancer, viral, and bacterial diseases, potentially enabling self-testing at home.31/08/2023
Scientists of the Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung pioneer new machine learning model for corrosion-resistant alloy design.30/08/2023
Automation and zero-defect production are important trends in machine construction. Artificial intelligence (AI) plays a major role in advancing both of them. Today, it can already detect deviations in process monitoring data and implement quality control in real time. In the future, AI will regulate many more processes and simplify process planning through assistance functions.24/08/2023
Scientists from NTU Singapore have developed a flexible battery as thin as a human cornea, which stores electricity when it is immersed in saline solution, and which could one day power smart contact lenses.17/08/2023
Researchers at the University of Bayreuth, together with partners in China and the USA, have produced an oxide glass with unprecedented toughness.17/08/2023
The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has unveiled a cutting-edge €1.2 million computer dedicated to materials research. This powerful tool can predict material properties even before they are produced, significantly enhancing the potential for optimization, including in the realm of COVID rapid tests.15/08/2023
Scientists at the University of Chicago found a glass crystal just a few atoms thick can trap and carry light - and could be used for applications.09/08/2023
JAIST researchers create liquid metal nanoparticles (PEG-IMIQ-LM) for cancer treatment, merging photothermal therapy and immunotherapy. Disintegration delivers immunomodulants and tracks cancer cells in real-time. Immune checkpoint inhibitor enhances cancer removal. Promising for future cancer theranostics, with clinical trials anticipated in a decade.08/08/2023
Researchers are developing neuromorphic materials to optimize adaptive algorithms for autonomous driving and more. These materials resemble brain structure, enabling faster and more efficient algorithm responses. Supported by Volkswagen Foundation with €1 million, the team aims to apply the approach to hardware.28/07/2023
In the NeuroQ project, a consortium from research and industry wants to develop sensitive sensors that enable better control of neural exoskeletons and prostheses under everyday conditions. Dr. Jan Jeske from the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF told us what role artificial diamonds play in this.27/07/2023
The team of Prof. Dr. Thomas Scheibel, Chair of Biomaterials at the University of Bayreuth, has compiled a current overview of the state of research on protein-based bioadhesives.26/07/2023
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.25/07/2023
Prof. Dr. Christopher Kuenneth together with research partners in Atlanta, USA, have now developed a digital system that promises extraordinarily high economical, technological and ecological benefits: from around 100 million theoretically possible polymers, their system can precisely select those materials that have an ideal property profile for targeted applications at unprecedented speed.20/07/2023
Autonomously switchable polymer materials have recently been developed by materials scientists at the University of Stuttgart and pharmacists at the University of Tübingen.18/07/2023
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.11/07/2023
Nanometer-scale coatings with functional materials play an important role in many sensory, electronic and photonic applications. An international team of researchers – coordinated by Leibniz IPHT in Jena, Germany – has succeeded for the first time in observing novel growth effects of tin coatings on silicon nanometer-structured surfaces.06/07/2023
Researchers develop and test highly efficient, environmentally friendly and stable antimicrobial (antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal) coating technologies in the NOVA project.04/07/2023
Living organisms use powerful physical principles to control interactions at their surfaces. Researchers at the Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, Leipzig University and TU Dresden have now discovered why cholesterol-containing surfaces can exhibit greatly reduced attachment of proteins and bacteria.29/06/2023
A patch equipped with highly sensitive electronics is meant to collect and evaluate vital data. In addition, the sensors will be integrated into baby clothing in order to improve the future of medical monitoring for newborns with the highest level of data security.27/06/2023
Microscopic imaging of magnetic fields, enabled by quantum sensing, allows the measurement of the unique magnetic fingerprint of objects. This opens the door for fundamentally new applications in various fields such as materials testing or biomedicine. The system offers a unique compromise of sensitivity, resolution and speed.22/06/2023
Researchers from Empa and ETH Zurich have developed a plaster with a sensor function to ensure that wounds in the abdomen remain tightly closed after an operation.06/06/2023
Billions of tons of electronic waste are produced in the EU every year. With a novel approach, the new EU project "CircEl-Paper" could sustainably improve the recycling process for electronics in the future.01/06/2023
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.25/05/2023
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.18/05/2023
The project partners in the BMBF's SEMECO future cluster are convinced that the future of medical technology lies in the combination of digital innovation, safety and improved approval processes.16/05/2023
People spend an average of 22 hours a day indoors, where furniture, carpets or wall paints can release harmful solvents over time. The scientists in the international doctoral programme "SENNET" aim to detect such pollutants. They want to develop reliable sensors based on special, porous materials.15/05/2023
Customized finger orthoses that can be printed quickly: Lukas Boxberger from the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU in Dresden focuses his research on this subject. In the future, the WEAM orthosis will support the customization of standard orthoses. In this interview, he explains the processes and materials that will turn this concept into a reality.11/05/2023
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.09/05/2023
The smart skin developed by Anna Maria Coclite has many potential applications – from robotics and cosmetic surgery to prosthetics. With an ERC Proof of Concept Grant, the researcher is now exploring its possible practical applications.25/04/2023
Clinically effective, custom-made, discreet and comfortable - the demands on aligners for the therapy of malocclusions are high. This also applies to the material of these orthodontic splints. A team has now developed a highly innovative material that enables completely new treatment concepts and reduces costs. The scientists focused on polymers with shape memory properties.19/04/2023
In radiotherapy, precision in targeting tumor tissue while minimizing damage to healthy tissue is crucial. Monitoring the dose of radiation delivered and absorbed in real-time, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract, poses significant difficulty.18/04/2023
How can battery metals such as lithium, cobalt, copper, manganese and nickel be recycled in a sustainable way? This question is in the focus of the new EU project METALLICO, in which DECHEMA is also involved. 23 partners from nine countries will optimize five innovative processes for the recovery of those metals and subsequently demonstrate these in case studies on an industrially relevant scale.11/04/2023
Advanced materials become increasingly complex due to the high requirements they have to fulfill regarding sustainability and applicability. Dierk Raabe and colleagues reviewed the use of artificial intelligence in materials science and the untapped spaces it opens if combined with physics-based simulations.05/04/2023
A new kind of smart bandage developed at Caltech may make treatment of chronic wounds easier, more effective, and less expensive. These smart bandages were developed in the lab of Wei Gao, assistant professor of medical engineering, Heritage Medical Research Institute Investigator, and Ronald and JoAnne Willens Scholar.28/03/2023
Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, at Johannes Kepler University and at University of Colorado Boulder developed fully biodegradable, high-performance artificial muscles. Their research project marks another step towards green technology becoming a lasting trend in the field of soft robotics.22/03/2023
A research group led by Prof. YAN Xuehai from the Institute of Process Engineering (IPE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a family of eco-friendly glass of biological origin fabricated from biologically derived amino acids or peptides.14/03/2023
The DITF have developed a sustainable and cost-saving process to produce carbon fibers from lignin. This is an inexpensive raw material that is available in large quantities and is a waste product in paper production. The process offers high energy-saving potential and is particularly environmentally friendly. It uses natural, renewable raw materials and does not require solvents.08/03/2023
Synthetic hydrogels were shown to provide an effective scaffold for neuronal tissue growth in areas of brain damage, providing a possible approach for brain tissue reconstruction.07/03/2023
With the onset of an aging population, the annual incidence of neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson's disease is escalating rapidly. One of the various therapeutic approaches for such diseases is deep brain stimulation. Recently, a research team at POSTECH developed a new technique for administering electrical stimulation to the brain without the need for implanted electrodes.23/02/2023
Having safe drinking water is vital for public health, but traditional methods of disinfection cause their own environmental problems. Chlorine is cheap and easy to use in centralized water systems, but at the expense of harmful chemical byproducts.22/02/2023
Engineering novel molecules and materials with specific properties can yield significant advances for industrial processes, drug discovery and optoelectronics. However, the search for novel molecules and materials is comparable to looking for a needle in a haystack, since the number of molecules in chemical space is of the unimaginable order of 10 to the power of 60.14/02/2023
The plastic materials polyurethane and polyvinyl alcohol can now be degraded under mild conditions with the help of enzymes as biocatalysts. Scientists from the University of Greifswald have developed corresponding methods together with the German company Covestro and teams from Leipzig and Dublin, as recently published in Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., in two separate articles.09/02/2023
Instrumenting integrative actuators and sensors within a single active device at the microscale is constrained by current manufacturing technologies. Now, a team of researchers has developed a flexible polymer-based actuatable fiber which is capable of being integrated with smart materials and biosensing composite materials.