From Patent To Patient

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From Patent To Patient

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=60320

Sometimes it begins with a slight pulling sensation in the back,

while at other times it can put a person completely out of action

from one minute to the next: These are the symptoms of a slipped

disk. An operation is not always necessary, as there are effective

alternatives to surgery. One method is to puncture the spinal disks.

This involves injecting medicine into the injured area of the body

with a thin needle. To be able to monitor the operation at all times

and position the instruments accurately, the surgeon requires an

image of the affected area. This can be obtained using magnetic

resonance imaging (MRI). " The problem so far, however, was that

conventional metal instruments interfere with the magnetic field of

the MRI and distort the picture, " explains Sebastian Schmitz of the

Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT. " Our task was to

develop instruments made out of fiber reinforced composite materials

for use in the tomograph, as these materials afford a clear view. "

But how to produce a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic puncture needle

that is just as firm and rigid as those made from stainless steel?

The engineers have now developed a new manufacturing process. Up to

eight thousand individual carbon fibers are treated in a

miniaturized pultrusion process: The fibers are soaked in a

thermosetting plastic, which is then heated until it sets. At the

same time, high pressure is applied to press the fibers together and

into the desired shape. Both processes must take place

simultaneously without hindering each other. To incorporate a

working channel into the needles, the engineers use hollow glass

fibers that are processed together with the carbon fibers. The

patented needles have now entered series production on the basis of

this method.

A finished needle with one working channel has a diameter of 0.8

millimeters. Needles with three channels are a little thicker,

measuring 1.2 millimeters. One channel, for instance, contains an

endoscope that illuminates the tissue to be treated. Via the same

route, the reflected light reaches a camera, and the operator sees a

moving image on the monitor. The fiber in the second channel

conducts laser light, which the surgeon can use to cut or weld

tissue. The third channel serves to induct rinsing liquids or

medication. In this way, several stages of treatment can be carried

out and monitored simultaneously. The needle is suitable for spinal

pain therapy, to inject contrast medium into joints for

arthrography, and for puncturing cysts.

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is the leading organization for

institutes of applied research in Europe, undertaking contract

research on behalf of industry, the service sector and the

government. Commissioned by customers in industry, it provides

rapid, economical and immediately applicable solutions to technical

and organizational problems. Within the framework of the European

Union's technology programs, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is actively

involved in industrial consortiums which seek technical solutions to

improve the competitiveness of European industry.

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft

http://www.fraunhofer.de