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Our dedicated editorial team works year-round to present you with high-quality content from the medical technology branch on our industry portal COMPAMED.de.

Whether you are interested in high-tech medical products, innovative technologies, or medical research - with us you will find well-founded articles that will help you stay up to date. Our editorial team closely follows the latest trends, medical advances and technologies.

Editorial articles cover a wide range of topics, including manufacturing of components and finished products, manufacturing equipment, components, modules, OEM equipment, electrical and electronical komponents, micro tech products, rwa materials, adhesives and software/ IT solutions, among many others. We offer in-depth analysis, expert interviews and informative articles and videos to help you better understand the complexities of the medical world.

We pride ourselves on being a trusted source of information for the medical industry and look forward to keeping you informed throughout the year.

Latest editorial news from the five COMPAMED sphere

Image: Microscopic image of a bio-ink with embedded electrospun fibres; Copyright: NMI

Bioink with fibers boosts nutrient flow in bioprinting

A new fiber-based bioink improves nutrient transport and structural integrity in 3D-printed tissue models for pharma and medical use.

Image: A researcher in a lab works on a computer, analyzing data on the screen; Copyright: Mikael Nyberg

Method for developing precise sensors for health monitoring

Researchers introduced a new method for creating highly sensitive sensors that could play a crucial role in healthcare monitoring.

Image: A gloved hand in a blue lab glove holds a small, cube-shaped soft actuator; Copyright: Empa

Soft muscles from the printer: a new approach to actuation

Researchers developed soft silicone actuators using 3D printing. These artificial muscles could one day support movement in humans.

Image: Two researchers in a laboratory wearing white lab coats and purple gloves work with pipettes and petri dishes; copyright: Daniel Nilsson

Ultra-sensitive detection method for bacterial spores

Researchers at Umeå University have developed a highly sensitive detection method that could improve food safety and contamination control.

Image: A 3D printer applies a black printing ink to a white plate; Copyright: Shengduo Xu / ISTA

Thermoelectric materials from the 3D printer

Thermoelectric materials play a crucial role in efficient temperature regulation in electronics and medical applications.

Image: A researcher wearing protective gear works closely with precision equipment in a laboratory setting; Copyright: Thor BalkhedRestriction

Connection between individual cells and organic electrodes

A research team has successfully established a close connection between individual cells and organic electrodes.

Image: A cube of cartilage construct on a petri dish held by a gloved hand in a laboratory setting; Copyright: Ozbolat Lab at Penn State / Penn State

Bioprinting: speed up in functional tissue fabrication

Penn State researchers have unveiled a bioprinting method that accelerates tissue production 10 times faster.

Image: A modern bioreactor under blue and red light, equipped with pumps, tubes, and sensors on a plate; copyright: Fraunhofer ISC

Bioreactor enhances long-term culturing of human stem cells

Fraunhofer Translational Center have developed a bioreactor for long-term culturing of stem cells.

Image: A pair of hands holding a flexible, colorful strip made of jelly-like segments in red, blue, and green, representing the jelly batteries; Copyright: University of Cambridge

Bioelectronics: Soft and stretchable jelly batteries

Research discovery in materials science: soft, stretchable “jelly batteries", flexible batteries inspired by electric eels

Image: A chemist holds a sample that is analyzed for biomarkers using the developed graphene-based sensor; Copyright: Jens Meyer/Uni Jena

New advances: graphene-based sensor for medical diagnostics

Researchers have developed a novel method for the functioning of graphene-based biosensors.

Image: Semiconductor hydrogel placed into a vessel with tweezers hold in gloved hands; Copyright: UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering / John Zich

Hydrogel semiconductor bridges bioelectronics and living tissue

Researchers have developed a unique hydrogel semiconductor with properties ideal for medical applications.

Illustration of the place in the knee where the implant is inserted; Copyright: Fraunhofer IAP / Jadwiga Galties

3D bioprinting: Personalized implants for cartilage therapy

Researchers are developing 3D printing inks with the body's own cartilage cells for personalized cartilage implants.

Image: The surface of a circuit board is processed by a micro precision device; Copyright: INP

New plasma printing technology enables surface modification in the micrometre range

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.

Image: Products from the 3D printer on a black background; Copyright: Empa

Miracle material: cellulose aerogel combines sustainability with high-tech

Researchers at Empa in Switzerland have developed a new type of material that combines several pioneering properties: the cellulose aerogel is biodegradable, can be printed in three dimensions and also offers excellent thermal insulation.

Image: This graphic visualizes the PA sensing instrument´s theoretical procedure; Copyright: Khan et al., doi 10.1117/1.JBO.29.1.017002.

Photoacoustic sensing instrument for tissue diagniostics

In the pursuit of enhancing clinical diagnostics, researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Indore have unveiled a new tool—a compact and cost-effective photoacoustic (PA) sensing instrument designed for biomedical tissue diagnosis. This development improves diagnostic practices, patient care and outcomes, offering rapid and accurate insights into breast tissue characterization.

Image: A couple of batteries are in the foreground with a blurred background.

Advancements in all-solid-state batteries by KIST-LLNL collaboration

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.

New technology for brain cancer visualization

Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a groundbreaking microscopy technology known as decrowding expansion pathology (dExPath). This innovative method allows for the visualization of previously unseen details in human brain tissue, opening new avenues for the diagnosis and treatment of brain cancer.

Image: Attenuation measurement for a waveguide spiral; Copyright: Fraunhofer IZM / Volker Mai

Automatedly measuring optical in-glass waveguides

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).

Image: A woman with gray hair and sunglasses goes for a walk with a cane. She wears a navigation belt; Copyright: feelSpace

Production of e-textiles: Vibrations lead the way

The German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF) have developed a contacting process with which orientation aids - and e-textiles in general - can be produced more economically and conveniently.

Image: A man and a woman stand in front of a terminal on a large machine and work on it; Copyright: eakkachaih

Focusing on the human – knowledge and assistance in production

Providing the best possible support for people in production, transferring their knowledge and maintaining their ability to work for as long as possible is becoming increasingly important for companies, a trend report by Fraunhofer IPK makes clear.

Image: Researcher takes thin films with tweezers; Copyright: imagesourcecurated

New method for manufacturing tailor-made semiconductor thin films

In order to produce thin organic semiconductor films automatically and with well-defined properties, researchers – led by Leibniz IPHT in Jena, Germany – have developed a new technological approach for depositing thin films with high molecular precision.

Image: A prosthetic hand and a human hand almost touch. Based on Michelangelo's "The Creation of Adam"; Copyright: atercorv

The new Center for Bionic Intelligence Tübingen Stuttgart

Scientists from the University of Stuttgart, the University of Tübingen, the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems and the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics are conducting research on intelligent bionic systems that will aid understanding and treatment of certain diseases of the central nervous system.

Image: Roll-to-roll vacuum coating system RC300; Copyright: Fraunhofer FEP

Roll-to-roll: system traverse for 2D inline process monitoring

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.

Image: Photo of a car interior. A man sits behind the wheel and operates a screen; Copyright: Fraunhofer IDMT/Anika Bödecker

Vital data: the whole body on the radar

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology IDMT in Oldenburg have developed a new method for collecting and analyzing vital signs from the human body by using radar.

Image: The transverse link with imprinted force sensor measures the stresses acting in the application at any time; Copyright: Fraunhofer ILT, Aachen.

Integrated sensor technology: the next step in additive manufacturing

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.

Image: A modern virtual application lab showcasing quantum sensing equipment; Copyright: Fraunhofer IAF

New virtual application lab for quantum sensing

Fraunhofer IAF has developed a virtual application lab to promote the use of quantum sensors in industry, allowing interactively measurements.

Image: A person speaks on a stage at the COMPAMED Suppliers Forum 2023; Copyright: Messe Düsseldorf / Andreas Wiese

CSF: Medical manufacturing to circular economy

In 2024, the COMPAMED Suppliers Forum will once again offer a special opportunity to present your own expertise.

Image: With a bang, Maria Pappa, Mayor of St.Gallen, officially opens the Health Innovation Hub with confetti in front of an audience; Copyright: Switzerland Innovation Park Ost AG/Karin Tanner

Innovation Health Hub combines inspiration with medical innovation

The grand opening of the Health Innovation Hub at Switzerland Innovation Park Ost (SIPO) laid an important foundation stone for future innovations in the field of healthcare. The hub serves as a platform for networking experts from research and industry to jointly drive forward innovative projects in the areas of wearables, health monitoring and disease prevention.

Image: On the left, there is a nurse measuring an older woman´s blood pressure. The older woman is sitting in a bed wearing a turquoise sweatshirt.

Digital remote monitoring reduces emergency hospital admissions from care homes

Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) has released findings from a study, demonstrating significant reductions in emergency hospital admissions and A&E attendances through the use of digital remote monitoring technology in care homes. The study showcases the potential of data-driven solutions to enhance healthcare outcomes for older adults.

Image: A glass press in a production room enables the automated production of high-precision optical glass components; Copyright: Fraunhofer IPT

Research: automated series production of optics with new glass press

The Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT in Aachen has expanded its machinery with a new system for the automated molding of high-precision optical glass components.

Image: Antenna packages for 6G; Copyright: Fraunhofer IZM

6G is right around the corner

The digital world is booming and has long since become part of everyday life in industry and society. More recent developments such as autonomous driving, telemedicine, but also private use require ever higher rates to transmit large amounts of data in real time. 6G should help with this: The aim is to transmit 1,000 GB/s and reduce latency to a tenth compared to 5G.

Image: Four men in a bright room: Prof. Jens Krzywinski in conversation with the directors of the participating Fraunhofer institutes; Copyright: Christin Scholz / Fraunhofer IVI

Establishing design as integral component in research and development

In its various disciplines and manifestations, design is increasingly gaining importance in Fraunhofer's research. Supporting this trend, the three Fraunhofer Institutes IVI, IWS and IWU in Dresden, together with Technische Universität Dresden, are establishing the "DesignLab for Applied Research" on behalf of the research community.

Image: A woman in work clothes and with a headset is standing in front of a demonstrator of a production machine; Copyright: Fraunhofer IDMT / Anika Bödecker

Intuitive machine control using speech recognition

Fraunhofer researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology IDMT in Oldenburg have developed a speech recognition solution for use in industrial manufacturing. The system works reliably even in noisy environments and can be flexibly adapted to the user’s needs.

Image: A slide with blood - left and an arm to which a spray is applied - right.; Copyright: Anna Lena Lundqvist/Chalmers

New spray fights infections and antibiotic resistance

The World Health Organization (WHO) ranks antibiotic resistance as one of the top ten threats to global health. A group of researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden are now presenting a new spray that can kill even antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and that can be used for wound care and directly on implants and other medical devices.

Image: Graphic of a nanoparticle striked by a blue and red light beam; Copyright: MPI-P

How optical microscopes allow detailed investigations of nanoparticles

It sounds like trying to scan a vinyl record with a hammer: Light is actually too "coarse" to image small particles on the nanometer scale. However, in their project "Supercol" – funded by the European Union – scientists want to achieve just that: The investigation of nanoparticles with light.

Image: A gloved researcher handling a microneedle patch using laboratory tweezers; Copyright: National University of Singapore

Microneedle technology improves diabetic wound healing

Microneedle technologies developed at NUS speed up diabetic wound healing and reduce inflammation in preclinical skin treatment studies.

Image: The image shows a microscopic close-up of a structured surface with spherical microlenses; copyright: Fraunhofer IMWS

Microlenses to slow myopia progression: new laser process

A process called laser swelling, enables the cost-effective and customized production of microlenses for eyeglasses.

Image: A magnetic vector scanner with electronic circuitry; Copyright: Fraunhofer IPMS

High-precision imaging and laser technology

A recent development from the the Fraunhofer IPMS: the first hybrid 2D vector scanner modules with electromagnetic drive.

Image: Illustration of a cell trap array; Copyright: Fraunhofer IMM

Printed organ structures for personalized medicine

Usage of microfluidics and single-cell technologies to print precise organ structures - a significant development for personalized medicine.

Image: A 1 cent coin in front of which the light stimulator is held for size comparison; Copyright: Fraunhofer IPMS, Sebastian Lassak

OLED-on-CMOS technology: New approach for light sources

Researchers are developing OLED-on-CMOS-based optical stimulators for future cochlear implants as part of the “NeurOpto” project.

Image: The gold electrodes under an electron microscope; Copyright: Yasar TB et al. Nature Communications 2024

Gold electrodes measure brain activity precisely and gently

New development from ETH Zurich: electrodes made of gold record brain activity precisely and gently.

Image: A tiny microchip containing the brain-machine interface; Copyright: EPFL

An entire brain-machine interface on a single chip

A new miniaturized brain-machine interface enables direct brain-to-text communication on extremely small silicon chips.

Image: Individual modules of the "SonoOne" ultrasound system placed on top of each other; Copyright: Fraunhofer IBMT

Innovative modular principle for ultrasonic sensors

SonoOne" ultrasonic sensor system opens up innovative possibilities for a wide range of applications thanks to its modular system.

Image: A cuboid-shaped metal box with threaded holes for the production of nanoparticles; Copyright: B. Bobusch/FDX Fluid Dynamix GmbH

FDmiX platform increases serial production of high-quality nanoparticles

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.

Image: Close-up of a miniature sensor for ventilators on a blue background; Copyright: Fraunhofer IPM

Sensor takes breathing gas measurement to a new level

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques (IPM) have now developed an innovative sensor that measures the oxygen content directly in the breath and thus provides precise and continuous values.

Image: Close-up of a magnetic sensor and a prosthetic hand; Copyright: Qant

Q.ANT magnetic field sensor: New quantum sensor technology for prosthesis control via nerve signal

The innovative magnetic field sensor from Q.ANT, a German quantum technology company, opens up far-reaching possibilities for prosthesis control and sensor technology in medical technology and beyond.

Image: Sensors on a cable with power supply; the implant on a pink background; Copyright: Northwestern University

Real-time bladder fullness: new technology for bladder dysfunction

Researchers at Northwestern University (USA) have developed an implant that monitors bladder fullness in real time. The battery-free, flexible device is attached to the bladder wall and transmits the data to a smartphone app.

Image: This graphic visualizes the AI technique employing arrows and different colors; Copyright: Ken Sakaushi National Institute for Materials Science

AI-based evolution: green hydrogen production enhances with platinum-free electrode materials

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.

Image: Biomechanical carbon hand prosthesis for disabled people on the table in the office, another white prosthesis in the background; Copyright: ionadidishvili

Hand prostheses: Artificial intelligence makes gripping more intuitive

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.

Image: An artist’s impression of a GELECTO machine interacting with biological cells via sending and reading of electrical and biochemical signals; Copyright: Leibniz-IPF, Ivan Minev

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

Over the next five years, the ERC will provide two million euro of funding for the development of a new class of electronic components that consist almost entirely of water and could make the interface between biological tissue and machine seamless.

Image: Six men in suits stand next to each other and pose for the camera; Copyright: SMWA

Optimization of chip production through AI: Green light for the LOTSE joint project

The Chair of Databases at TUD Dresden University of Technology is now a partner in the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) joint research and development project LOTSE - an AI project to optimize chip production in Saxony.

Image: Anatomical model of human pancreatitis; Copyright: JoPanwatD

Pancreas: nanoparticles for optimized cancer therapy

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.

Image: Close-up of piezoceramic stack actuator on blue background; Copyright: Fraunhofer IKTS

COMPAMED 2023: Piezoceramics shorten root canal treatments

When carrying out root canal treatment procedures, dentists need to insert a file deep into the root canal to remove the inflamed tissue. The rotating file often gets jammed and must be cleaned regularly. Researchers have developed a piezoceramic stack actuator that overlays the rotating motion with a vibrating motion.

Image: Close up of a microchip; Copyright: aetb

TUM professor develops an energy-saving AI chip

Hussam Amrouch has developed an AI-ready architecture that is twice as powerful as comparable in-memory computing approaches.

Image: Symbolic image: colored contrasting lines in blue and violet on a white background; Copyright: alexlucru123

Novel nanoparticles could serve as contrast agents

Special nanoparticles could one day improve modern imaging techniques. Developed by researchers at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), the properties of these unique nanoparticles change in reaction to heat.

Image: Symbolic image of a micro swimmer; Copyright: MPI-DS / LMP

The fuel economy of a microswimmer

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.

Image: Close-up of a sensor bracelet demonstrator; Copyright: Fraunhofer IBMT

Bidirectional control of prosthetic hands using ultrasonic sensors

Researchers at Fraunhofer are working as part of an EU research project to improve control of prosthetic hands down to individual fingers.

Image: Person holding a sensor in hands; Copyright: Kate Myers/Penn State

Wearable sensor for continuous analysis of sweat

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.

Image: Dr. Marina Dziuba in the laboratory with bacterial cultures to produce magnetic nanoparticles; Copyright: Christian Wißler/UBT

EXIST funding for bacterial magnetic nanoparticles

BioMagnetix uses bacterial magnetic nanoparticles as innovative materials for biomedical applications. The founding team aims to develop and continuously improve high-quality and highly functional magnetic nanoparticles for imaging techniques and therapeutic purposes, such as cancer treatment.

Image: Schematic structure of a sensor for the detection of viral pathogens; Copyright: TUD

Diagnostics: pioneering approaches for the detection of viral antigens

Scientists from the Chair of Materials Science and Nanotechnology at TU Dresden (TUD) have made considerable progress in the development of highly innovative solutions for the detection of viral pathogens in two studies they presented recently.

Image: A transparent container with circular compartments filled with red liquid, featuring 3D-printed structures; Copyright: University of Nottingham

Materials for personalized regenerative implants

Researchers have developed a new blood-derived material capable of repairing bones, the "biocooperative" material.

Image: Fluorine-free coatings for medical technology applications; Copyright: Fraunhofer IFAM

PFAS substitutes as solutions for safe surfaces

The IFAM has developed alternatives to perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) that can also be used in medical technology.

Image: Person holding the antiviral coating material with tweezers; Copyright: Julia Siekmann, Kiel University

New production method for an antiviral coating

Researchers have investigated and compared six biomedical coating materials to understand their interactions with cells, skin and viruses.

Image: A roll of PFAS-free polymer membrane; Copyright: Fraunhofer IAP / Till Budde

PFAS-free polymer membranes for semiconductor production

PFAS-free polymer membrane is an environmentally friendly alternative to the PFAS-containing membranes previously used in the semiconductor industry.

Image: Various steel medical tools lying on a table; Copyright: Clayton D / peopleimages.com

Steel solutions for medical requirements

As a precise and durable material, steel is of crucial importance in modern medical technology.

$Image: Edith Perret, woman with lab coat and long blonde hair, sits in a laboratory and smiles at the camera; Copyright: Empa$

Smart fibers for precise drug delivery

Empa researchers have developed a promising solution for local drug delivery over a longer period of time.

Image: A doctor with a beard and glasses holds a resorbable stent close to the camera; Copyright: Karin Kaiser/MHH

Latest generation of self-dissolving stents conquers hearts

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.

Image: A smiling Ottobock employee processes a blank with patches made of flax fibers; Copyright: Ottobock

Ottobock presents GreenLine: Sustainable materials for medical technology

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.

Image: Man with black hair and dark-rimmed glasses wearing a light blue top; Copyright: PHOTO COURTESY OF YONGLONG XIE/RICE UNIVERSITY

Rice physicist receives NSF CAREER award to advance quantum technology

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.

Image: The picture shows on the right three brown examples of hydrogel. To the left, there is a transparent hydrogel; Copyright: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya

New hydrogel for seawater desalination and medical therapies

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.

Image: A microscopic image of the newly developed fibers; Copyright: Washington State University

Conductive, cotton-based fiber for smart textiles

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.

Image: A printer applies the dopamine-based tissue adhesive to the three-dimensional titanium shaft of a hip joint; Copyright: Fraunhofer CMI

Inspired by mussels: printable adhesives for tissues and bones

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.

Image: Prof. Martin Bertau (left) and doctoral student Paul Scapan with safety glasses in the laboratory; Copyright: TU Bergakademie Freiberg / Andreas Hiekel

Basis for innovative PFAS filter made of clay

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.

Image: Used auto parts warehouse worker checks inventory in warehouse; Copyright: coffeekai

Recycling model for the plastics industry

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.

Image: At the pilot plant, a 3D printer builds the scaffold from the composite material; Copyright: BellaSeno

COMPAMED 2023: Bioactive composite supports healing of broken bones

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.

Image: A Person (Felix Thelen) working in a lab; Copyright: RUB, Marquard

Autonomous measuring instruments systematically detect new materials

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.

Image: Various plastic waste on a pile; Copyright: Nick Fewings / Unsplash

Plastic production via advanced recycling lowers GHG emissions

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.

Image: Visualization of state qualification in violet and green; Copyright: Fraunhofer IWM

Using deep learning to classify steel materials objectively

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.

Image: The ball shapes are bacteria and the “sheet” is black phosphorus, under the microscope at RMIT University; Copyright: Aaron Elbourne and colleagues, RMIT University

Ultrathin nanotech promises to help tackle antibiotic resistance

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.

Image: dr Margarethe Hauck (right) and Lena Saure, wearing glasses and a white coat, test the hydrogel in the laboratory; Copyright: Julia Siekmann, Uni Kiel

Muscles for soft robots inspired by nature

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.

Image: Dr. Hu Tang, first author of the study, in front of a high-pressure press at the Bavarian Research Institute; Copyright: UBT / Chr. Wißler.

New glass with supreme toughness

Researchers at the University of Bayreuth, together with partners in China and the USA, have produced an oxide glass with unprecedented toughness.

Image: Light-activatable liquid metal nanostimulant in cancer therapy; Copyright: Eijiro Miyako from JAIST

Cancer photoimmunotherapy: novel liquid metal nanoparticles

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.

Image: Close-up of a boy with a healed minor cut after surgical tape stitches; Copyright: ellinnur

Biomaterials: toolbox for the development of bioadhesives

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.

Image: A man stands in front of a monitor showing the atomistic structure of a polymer with carbon atoms and hydrogen atoms; Copyright: UBT / Chr. Wißler

Digital AI system for tailoring polymers

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.

Image: Intelligent rubber material that adapts to ambient humidity. This wristband shows the material's ability to adapt, in this case, to wrist movements.; Copyright: University of Stuttgart, FSM-Lab

Intelligent rubber materials

Autonomously switchable polymer materials have recently been developed by materials scientists at the University of Stuttgart and pharmacists at the University of Tübingen.

Image: An ultrasonic sensor chip with a rectangular component with fine parallel lines; Copyright: Sebastian Lassak, Fraunhofer IPMS

Edge AI sensors for health and environment

InSeKT develops compact edge AI sensors for real-time applications in medical technology, industrial electronics, and environmental monitoring.

Image: Group photo of the 4C community on the lakeshore; Copyright: Janina Datz (LNM, TUM)

Open-source software 4C for medical simulations

Researchers has released the 4C (Comprehensive Computational Community Code) as open-source software.

Image: Placenta shortly after birth on a white background

AI tool for faster detection of placental health issues

A new developed AI-tool could improve neonatal and maternal care by analyzing placentas immediately after birth.

Image: This image shows how a waver is produced by a machine.

Advancements in microchip manufacturing: new plasma technology

Plasma scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) have made advancements in microchip manufacturing. Their latest research, highlighted in a recent peer-reviewed publication, aims to enhance production efficiency and streamline manufacturing processes. This development holds the potential to revitalize the American chip industry.

Image: This image shows symbolically some cells in petri plates in a laboratory.

Advancing immune cell analysis with micro-robots

A cutting-edge research from the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering and Department of Chemistry unveils a development in immune cell analysis. Scientists have engineered microscopic robots capable of binding to immune cells, offering a novel approach to studying their functions and advancing immunotherapy design.

Image: Prof. Pavel Jungwirth; Copyright: Tomáš Belloň / IOCB Prague

Computer model of the ear may help to improve cochlear implants

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.

Image: Security architecture 2.0 blue diagram for telematics infrastructure; Copyright: Fraunhofer AISEC

Future-proof security architecture for healthcare communications

Germany’s telematics infrastructure (TI) aims to allow healthcare professionals to exchange patient data securely, rapidly and from anywhere. The platform for healthcare applications will soon see a new security architecture. The aim is to make it easier to exchange data between all parties involved as well as to facilitate access to specialist services.

Image: Graphic of a processor on a mainboard on the processor is a brain graphically recorded; Copyright: iLexx

Materials for AI: more brainpower for hardware and software

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.

Image: Smiling woman with black blazer, glasses, and blond hair in a laboratory – Dr. Julia Westermayr; Copyright: Swen Reichhold

AI: new method for targeted design of molecules

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.

Image: Rong Yang works with an initiated chemical vapor deposition system in her lab; Copyright: Charissa King-O’Brien | Cornell University

Engineers to advance nanomedicine manufacturing using AI

A novel combination of artificial intelligence and production techniques could change the future of nanomedicine, according to Cornell researchers using a new $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation to revolutionize how polymer nanoparticles are manufactured.

Image: Raster animation of a human head sticking out of a tablet, robotic arms work on its brain; Copyright: Petra Ritter / BIH

EU project to establish AI and robotics in healthcare

The EU project TEF-Health aims to test and validate innovative artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics solutions for the healthcare sector and accelerate their path to market.

Image: 3D microscopic image of an optical LED-based cochlear implant (blue LEDs in gray silicone encapsulation) with hair cells (orange) and auditory nerve (blue/green); Copyright: Daniel Keppeler, UM

Better hearing with optical cochlear implants

Understanding spoken words, developing normal speech - cochlear implants enable people with profound hearing impairment to gain a great deal in terms of quality of life. However, background noises are problematic, they significantly compromise the comprehension of speech of people with cochlear implants. The team led by Tobias Moser is therefore working to improve cochlear implants.

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Besides the editorial business news, in each of the five COMPAMED spheres you will find thematically prepared background articles, interviews, statements, video reports or photo galleries from the healthcare industry and medical technology. MEDICA also offers five spheres with information from the medical technology industry for you.

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