Modern production technology is more and more penetrating areas that have been reserved long time only for specialists. Experience has shown that the innovative production technology is also useful in the area of medical engineering. 

We investigate primarily the usage of active materials and special materials for medical-technology based components as well as bio mechanical model design. In collaboration with physicians and producers of medical products we work on approaches for clinical all-day problems. The service range contains examinations of single components, the development of proto types and the clinical testing of equipment systems.

Active materials, such as shape memory materials or piezo ceramics, offer diverse applications to medical equipment technology and prosthetics. They can be applied as alternative drive elements, but they also allow the development of new, complex systems with new functionalities. Depending on the application, they can act as sensor or function actively to influence, for example, the force contact at the bone-implant interface, thus preventing loosening of implants in the long run. This enables the necessary sterilization process or even improves it.

The Finite Element Method (FEM), which is widely used in engineering for simulating object properties and processes, has also proved successful for the illustration of biomechanical processes. The utilization of numerical models is considered helpful for constructive optimization in medical research as well as in clinical practice (such as in surgery planning).

In this area of research, Fraunhofer IWU is competent in the field of numerical modeling and in the relevant experimental verification. Established experience can be found in the area of numerical investigation of active materials, such as shape memory alloys and their integration in implants or textiles.

We qualify technologies and innovative hybrid processes for the flexible, process reliable and economical production of functional surfaces and micro structures on components and systems of the medical engineering and micro analytics.

Process developments from precision engineering up to micro system technology are applied especially micro forming, micro milling as well as Laser, EDM and ECM machining. Those technologies can nearly, depending on the aimed for geometry and quality of machining, be used for all kind of relevant materials. 

Fraunhofer IWU uses the additive manufacturing process of laser beam melting to manufacture implants of biocompatible metallic materials (titanium, cobalt-chromium, stainless steel) with almost any complex geometry. The implants can be equipped with a complex or, if necessary, variable geometric structure either in their complete volume or only at the surface, in order to optimally adapt their properties of strength and stiffness to the surrounding bone and to improve the incorporation behaviour. Additionally, implants can be adapted to the geometry of each single patient.