Digital technologies for the medicine of the future

At Freudenberg, material expertise and a feel for trends in the medical industry come together: experts use their know-how to enable the digitalisation of medical products. A global trend in medical technology.  

Our author
Martina Muschelknautz
Martina MuschelknautzCorporate Communications, Freudenberg & Co.

One example of this is intelligent medical products made from medical silicone, which insulates electronic components and can also be used as an electrically conductive component.

How does this work?
Electrical currents are conducted through the combination of silicone and conductive fillers. This allows specific areas of the body to be stimulated in a targeted manner. Areas of application include neurostimulation for pain treatment or the targeted training of muscle groups.

Silicone also insulates the electronic components and sensors of medical products, protecting them from dirt, water and sweat. As a result, the devices function reliably and for a long time.  

 

 

Monitoring belts for premature babies

Reliable monitoring of premature babies without negative consequences for their health or development is a particular medical challenge. The Dutch start-up Bambi Medical has developed the Bambi Belt, an innovative monitoring system for premature babies. The Bambi Belt replaces monitoring with electrodes and cables with a skin-friendly silicone belt.

It consists of a flexible conductor track coated with various silicones with integrated sensors. The Bambi Belt is made from a particularly soft and biocompatible material, adheres to the skin and is easy to remove. The particularly soft belt can therefore be put on and taken off without pain, and the integrated sensors record the premature baby's vital functions via the skin. Thanks to the wireless design, parents can easily make skin-to-skin contact with their babies. Studies have shown that this promotes the baby's mental and physical development. Freudenberg supported the development and manufacture of the belt with material and process expertise

It consists of a flexible conductor track coated with various silicones with integrated sensors. The Bambi Belt is made from a particularly soft and biocompatible material, adheres to the skin and is easy to remove. The particularly soft belt can therefore be put on and taken off without pain, and the integrated sensors record the premature baby's vital functions via the skin. Thanks to the wireless design, parents can easily make skin-to-skin contact with their babies. Studies have shown that this promotes the baby's mental and physical development. Freudenberg supported the development and manufacture of the belt with material and process expertise.  

Training device against apnoea

The London-based medical technology company Signifier Medical Technologies had the goal of developing a suitable device for the treatment of sleep apnoea - Freudenberg made a significant contribution to this. Together with Freudenberg, Signifier Medical Technologies developed the neuromuscular tongue training device.

The device is worn in the mouth for 20 minutes a day and stimulates the tongue muscle with minimal electric shocks, controlled via a smartphone app. The mouthpiece is manufactured by Freudenberg in Kaiserslautern.

The material for this consists of an electrically conductive silicone that Freudenberg has developed especially for Signifier Medical Technologies. 

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