Bio- and Medical Technology

Profile

 

Fraunhofer IKTS has for many years been a reliable partner in the development of medical implants, surgical instruments and the latest methods in testing, characterization and analytics in life sciences.

Ceramics, biology and diagnostics – based on these fields of competence, Fraunhofer IKTS supports the development of innovation in medicine and medical technology. The researchers use their outstanding technical infrastructure with certified labs. Quality, cost and regulatory requirements are the criteria on which the research efforts are focused.

At IKTS, interdisciplinary teams from the fields of materials science, immunobiology and diagnostics work together on existing and new generations of implants. Based on commercially available materials, the scientists develop new ceramic materials and components with improved mechanical, aesthetic and biological properties.

The researchers support projects as required by the client – from material development and selection to shaping, functionalization and biological in vitro assessment. Sophisticated characterization and analytics round off the overall range of services for our partners in industry and scientific institutions. This makes it possible to shorten development times and identify potential risks at an early stage. Our comprehensive skills with regard to evaluating ceramic materials and components (e.g. for particle design, microstructure and tribology) enable targeted improvements of structural and property relationships.

The teams make use of biological material analytics, enabling them to arrive at additional statements on the degradation behavior and immunological reactions under in vitro conditions. In this context, the researchers use specifically developed measuring and test methods not just for internal quality assurance alone: they also make these available as specific service and system developments for ceramics and other types of materials.

To respond to the challenges of an aging society, Fraunhofer IKTS conducts preparatory research aimed at continuously optimizing the properties and functionality of the next generation of implants.

At the center of these research efforts are novel manufacturing routes for patient-specific medical products using additive manufacturing, as well as the functionalization of implants and implant surfaces through constructive and actuator- or sensor-based elements. The researchers oversee the complete process, from technical feasibility through to the valid, reproducible final product. They design and develop the required inline-capable test technologies, as well as analytical systems for medical applications.