Transplants and implants often fail because of an uncontrollable immune reaction in the recipient. An international research team, including the Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum from Karlsruhe, has decided to now tackle the issue as part of an EU research project called IMMODGEL.
The international project team is focusing primarily on dental and laryngeal implants made of titanium. The experts are examining local immune modulation in the area around the implant using innovative hydrogel-based systems. The aim is to avoid the most common undesirable immune reactions triggered by implants. An innovative solution based on chemical and biological components should reduce these reactions. The design needs to be adaptable so that it can be used with all kinds of implants, medical equipment or transplants.
A diagnostic test is also being developed to predict the immune reaction of patients to implant materials. The chemical and physical properties of the design will be changed to avoid rejections. Thanks to IMMODGEL, for the first time ever, implants will be adapted individually to minimize undesired reactions.
The Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum is taking care of administrative and financial aspects of the project and is responsible for promoting the project, sharing the project results and managing communication and intellectual property rights. In its role as project coordinator, the SEZ also acts as a go-between between the European Commission on the one hand and SMEs and scientific partners on the other.
Dr. Jonathan Loeffler, Dr. Mercedes Dragovits
Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum Karlsruhe (Karlsruhe)
mercedes.dragovits@stw.de
Buildings are one of the main contributors to global warming and play an important role in halting climate change. One decisive technology in this respect will be buildings technology, which is already a central nervous system for controlling systems and equipment in buildings. The Steinbeis Innovation Center energie+ is working as a partner in a project to provide scientific support for the launch of the first software to control and monitor building automation processes.
There are major deficits in this area in construction practice. Until now, there have been no methods in building automation to define precise functions and how they should be checked. As a result, the energy efficiency of buildings is between 5% and 30% under potential levels.
As part of a collaboration with Braunschweig University of Technology, RWTH Aachen University and synavision GmbH (also from Aachen), the Steinbeis Innovation Center is submitting buildings and systems to virtual testing. A software package called “energie navigator” makes it possible to precisely map automation functions and evaluate operational data, assigning a special value called “operation quality.” For the first time, this provides a measurement value of contractual validity, which is suitable for signing off and monitoring automation systems. Based on initial experience, the anticipated savings made by using this virtual test bench are around 10% or higher.
The Steinbeis Innovation Center energie+ will be conducting field tests to evaluate actual “operation quality” and any identified operational errors. Owners of buildings and equipment who would like to test their property can also take part in the launch, gaining access to scientific support.
Dr.-Ing. Stefan Plesser
Steinbeis Innovation Center energie+ (Braunschweig)
stefan.plesser@stw.de
The Steinbeis Transfer Center New Technologies in Traffic Engineering is integrating finite elements into software called winLIFE to carry out lifetime computations in complex estimation scenarios. The software has now been extended to include a module for verifying static strength and fatigue strength in line with guidelines laid down by the FKM (the German mechanical engineering board).
The analysis can only be conducted on the “point of verification” and stress can only be input manually by users (without FEM). All examples provided by the FKM can thus be precisely understood without casting doubt on rounding errors or network problems with the FE analysis. Once users are familiar with the system, they can make use of data in the FE program and not just calculate the point of verification but ultimately also all points on the surface, even depicting load factors. This makes the program highly versatile.
Other winLIFE module extensions previously in use are still available. Seminars are on offer to provide more information about the new module. The FKM guideline software extension has been available since July.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gunter Willmerding
Steinbeis Transfer Center New Technology in Traffic Engineering (Ulm)