Health and Environment – Implants, prostheses, bioresorbable materials

When parts of the human organism fail, they must so far as possible be replaced. Research in this field has made amazing advances: dental prostheses are custom manufactured using computer-controlled software; implants, such as corneas made of synthetic materials, can restore vision permanently; artificial limbs today are capable of an astonishing level of functionality; and bioresorbable materials are dissolved by the body on schedule once they reach the end of their useful life.

The Fraunhofer Lighthouse Project »Theranostic Implants« aims to develop active implants that combine therapeutic and diagnostic functions in a single medical device. To this end, Fraunhofer researchers are developing the following three demonstrators: a smart hip-joint prostheses, a sensor implant for monitoring blood circulation and a myoelectric prosthetic hand controller.

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