Medical Engineering & Neuroprosthetics
Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering
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Bidirectional Interface for peripheral nerves.
© Fraunhofer IBMT (Photo: Bernd Müller)
Projects
Public Projects
Within from the European Union and as well as from the BMBF and other public facilities funded projects an interdisciplinary team work of different scientific fields take place. At this, an increased cooperation with industrial partners will be emphasised for a practical implementation of the applied research.
Implantable, elastic nano-functionalized Polysiloxan- structures for new applications in the field of Neuroprosthetics (elaN)
Description: Development and scientific evaluation of a systematic functionalizing of Polysiloxans (PDMS) with nano substances to generate new materials for neuroprosthetic applications.
Funding: 16SV5367
Funding period: 10/2010 - 09/2013
IMPLANT
Description: Accompanying research within the BMBF framework „intelligent implants"
Contribution of IBMT: Description and evaluation of biological- technical interfaces: Telemetry, electrodes, energy consumption
Funding: 16V5007
Funding period: 07/2010 – 07/2013
Closed-Loop Neural Prosthesis for Vestibular Disorders (CLONS)
Description: Development of a prosthetic system for patients suffering from diseases and disorders of the vestibular system. Movements and accelerations are recorded using suitable sensors and transduced into control signals which are applied for electrostimulation of the vestibular nerve using multi-channel microelectrodes.
Contribution of IBMT: Development and fabrication of implantable microelectrodes for the vestibular system, Organization of Workshops and Summer Schools
Funding: EU-FP7-ICT-225929
Funding Period: 01/2009-12/2012
Myoplant
Description: The objective of Myoplant is to realize a myoelectrically controlled, i.e. controlled by muscle signals, hand-/armprosthesis. Therefore, we develop an implantable device for acquiring muscle signals directly that routes them wirelessly to the actuated artificial hand. In spite of the augmented degree of freedom, the handling will be more intuitive and easier than with present models based on surface electrodes.
Contribution of IBMT: Invasive interface to the muscle, wireless communication between implant and hand prosthesis and the wireless energy supply of the device’s electronics by the external prosthesis.
Funding: 16SV3697
Funding period: 08/2008 – 06/2011
LifeScience.biz
Description: Development and management of hybrid business models for health care and wellness.
Funding: 01FC8063
Funding period: 12/2008 – 11/2011
UlcusPrevent
Description: For the treatment of diabetes and decubitus patients, the control of pressure load and pressure distribution of the affected body regions plays an important role. By employing innovative microsensors which will be implemented flexibly in different textiles, ulceration shall be effectively reduced, well directed and continuously. This textile based system will record and analyse pressure conditions of endangerd body regions, indicating overload conditions to the patient, who will then be able to relieve the corresponding body part, e.g. toe, heel or pelvis.
Contribution of IBMT: Fraunhofer IBMT is responsible for the wireless data link between the textile measuring unit (e.g. decubitus sock) and a processing and alarm unit placed at the upper part of the body. In addition, IBMT develops the electronics and the required firmware.
Funding: 16SV3714
Funding period: 11/2008-10/2011
Continuous intraoperative nerve monitoring as microtechnological navigation instrument (IKONA)
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- © Fraunhofer IBMT (Photo: Bernd Müller).
Description: Development of a continuous monitoring system for protection of nerve structures during surgical interventions. Using electrical stimulation and recording, the nerve can be monitored over its complete length, and the surgeon is warned by an alarm signal if the nerve is subject to mechanical or thermal stress.
Contribution of IBMT: Project coordination, development and fabrication of electrode systems for stimulation and recording
Funding: 01EZ0722
Funding Period: 09/2007-05/2011
Measuring the Impossible NETwork (MINET)
Description: All coordinators of the "Measuring the Impossible (MtI)" activities are included in MINET for a better collaboration and sustainable result exploitation. The transfer of information and experiences will be done with workshops, think tanks and training courses.
Contribution of IBMT: Collaboration in the MINET meetings. Input for e-MINET.
Funded by: EU-FP6-NEST-043297
Time Period: 02/2007-01/2010
European Expert Platform for "Measuring Human Feelings and Emotions (Feel Europe)"
Description: Organisation and accomplishment of a workshop with the topic "measuring human feelings and emotions". The results will be published in a "White Paper" as basic for novel R&D-activities.
Contribution of IBMT: Coordination of the project. Organisation of the workshop and creation of the "White Paper". (Working in all tasks)
Funded by: EU-FP6-NEST-043357
Time Period: 02/2007-07/2007
DARPA "Revolutionizing Prosthetics Program"
Description: Development of an artificial arm limb system for rehabilitation of severed member.
Contribution of IBMT: Characterisation of encapsulation materials as well as evaluation of multi layer encapsulation films for the coating of microelectrode arrays to the connection on the nerve system
Funded by: DARPA
Time Period: 09/2006-11/2007
Self organizing Electrodenetwork for the Electrophysiologic Diagnostic (SEED)
Description: The objective of the SEED project is the feasibility study of an intelligent surface electrode for building a complex electrode system, which can be used for wireless and high channel recordings of electrophysiological signals. For evaluation of the micro-nano-integration and the synergy effects of converging technologies for the Medical Engineering, this scientific study will result in a fully functional demonstrator.
Contribution of IBMT: Coordination of the project. Working in all tasks.
Funded by: BMBF
Time Period: 04/2007-03/2008
The Fusion of Neuroscience and Robotics for augmenting human capabilities (Neurobotics)
Description: In the EU project Neurobotics three scientific fields will be performed:
1. Interface technologie: the focus lies on invasive and non-invasive interfaces to the peripheral nerve system as well as central nerve system
2. Neurosciences with special reference on sensormotoric coordination
3. Robotic regarding biomimetic and anthropomorphic systems and bionic components
Contribution of IBMT: Development of implantable electrodes for neusostimulation and recording of nerve signals (Sieve-, Shaft-, tfLIFE-Electrodes), Optimisation of Electrodes, Packaging- and Assembling Technology, Investigations on biological compatibility
Funded by: EU IST-001917
Time Period: 01/2004-12/2007
NIH/NINDS "Chronic Microelectrode Array"
Description: Development of a full integrable, biocompatible, microenergetic, chronical array for neuronal signal recording.
Contribution of IBMT: Development of characterisation methods for the measurement of the long term stability
Funded by: NIH
Time Period: 09/2004 - 09/2008
Intelligente multimodale mobile Sensorsysteme für Anwendungen in Medizin, Arbeitssicherheit und Wellness (INMUSENS, Produkt senSAVE)
Description: The objectives of the project senSAVE are the optimising of the therapy of cardiovascular diseases and preventing persons (patients) prior emergencies. In addition to the treatment quality, the focus is in enhancement of person's autonomy and quality of life. Wireless body-sensors are used for a continuous monitoring of patient's health. In the case of an emergency situation the system will send automatically danger signals to a physician for taking medical advice.
Contribution of IBMT: Development of flexible textile-integrated surface electrode for a "dry" ECG monitoring
Funded by: MAVO
Time Period: 01/2005-03/2007
Development of a cybernetic hand prosthesis (CYBERHAND)
Description: Development of a neuroprosthesis for the control of an artificial upper limb after amputation; Control of the prosthesis and sensory feedback should be performed via the neuro-technical interface.
Contribution of IBMT: Development of implantable electrodes for neuro-stimulation and recording of nerve signals (sieve-electrodes), optimisation of electrodes, packaging and assembly of implants
Funded by: EU, IST Program ,IST-2001-35094
Time Period: 05/2002-04/2005
Representation of stimuli as neural activity (ROSANA)
Description: Analyses for the representation of pheripheral sensory signals of the central nervous system after tactile and electrical stimulation.
Contribution of IBMT: Development of implantable electrodes that provide high spatial resolution for neural stimulation and recording of nerve signals (sieve-electrodes), packaging assembly of implants, telemetry, implant development
Funded by: EU, IST Programm ,IST-2001-34892
Time Period: 05/2002-04/2005
Restoration of bladder function by neuroprothetics (REBEC)
Description: Development of a neuroprosthesis for neuromodulation of incontinence through selective electric stimulation; development up to clinical testing.
Contribution of IBMT: Development of implantable electrodes for neuro-stimulation (cuff-electrodes), packaging of integrated circuits, development of stimulators and pulse-shapes for stimulation
Funded by: EU, LIFE-V Program, QLG5-CT-2001-00822
Time Period: 01/2002-12/2004
Implantable and extracorporal modular micro-system-platform (IMEX)
Description: Infrastructure-project for the development and the definition of standardised interfaces inside biomedical micro-systems towards a modular system composition, respectively; establishment of the initiative MikroMedizin.
Contribution of IBMT: Coordination of the development of an implant for pressure-measurement inside the urinary bladder; analysis of the physicochemical properties of biomaterials in long-term studies; knowledge management of the interface between biomedical micro-implants and body tissues and fluids; collaboration in the consortium "Biocompatible packaging and assembling technologies"
Funded by: BMBF, VDI/VDE-IT
Time Period: 06/2002-11/2004
EPI-RET / Retina Implantat I & II
Description: Retina implant for the blind.
Contribution of IBMT: Development of technical micro-systems with integrated electrodes based on polyimide for an implantable micro-system for patients suffering from blindness caused by retinitis pigmentosa and macula-degeneration, hybrid packaging of integrated circuits, acute-stimulators for animal experiments to human application, cytotoxicity examination according to ISO 10993
Funded by: BMBF, DLR, 01 IN 501 H 4
Time Period: 08/1995-09/2003
Neuronen-Mikrosonde II (NMS II)
Description: Biohybrid sieve implant for interfacing peripheral nerves
Contribution of IBMT: Development of technical micro-systems with integrated electrodes based on polyimide for biohybrid implants, examination of the cytotoxicity according to ISO 10993, optimisation of neurons by genetical engineering (stress- and apoptosis-resistivity)
Funded by: BMBF, BEO 0311529
Time Period: 07/1999-12/2002
An integrated system for the neuroelectric control of grasp in disabled persons (GRIP)
Description: Development of a neural prosthesis for neural stimulation in patients suffering from paraplegia; restoring of grasp functionality; development up to clinical testing.
Contribution of IBMT: Development of implantable electrodes for neural stimulation (cuff-electrodes), packaging of integrated circuits, telemetry, design of implants
Funded by: EU, ESPRIT Programme, no. 26322
Time Period: 01/1998-12/2001
Stand up and walk (SUAW)
Description: Development of an implant for neuro-muscular stimulation in patients suffering from paraplegia for standing up and walking, clinical testing.
Contribution of IBMT: Development of epimysial-electrodes, design of implants
Funded by: EU, BIOMED II (BMH4-CT965-1501)
Time Period: 07/1996-06/2000