Platform 5

Medical Device Engineering

Platform 5 is dedicated to the development and engineering of medical devices. Specialists in optics get the highest possible light output, microsystems engineers obtain miniaturized devices which a durable and persistent within the harsh environment and software engineers optimize and integrate the coding strategies for optical stimulation.

We evaluate the devices in regard to their physical properties and second in preclinical animal models in vivo, and develop human prototypes and manufacture with advice and support of our industry partners. As a first target, we work towards the design freeze of optical cochlea implants, which is planned for 2028.

We develop the medical devices from a common concept which is highly flexible and is then customized for the specific applications. The concept consists of an energy coupling system to transmit power and information to drive the light source from outside of the body via induction. This signal has to be further processed by the hard and firmware of the implant to drive the optical stimulator.

Platform 5 figure
Figure: Medical Device Engineering Platform. The concept places the optical stimulator away from the actual target organ to allow robust fixation away in regions with less movements and less fluid exchanges. For this purpose, an optical module will couple the light generated by the laser diode array 1:1 into a flexible waveguide array guiding the light to the target organ. This way, only the tip of the waveguide array has to be adapted to the individual application to emit the light at the respective places of the cochlea and sensory cortex of the brain and to cover a broad area of the antrum of the stomach.