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Media: Innovation accelerator Eindhoven Engine enters new phase

As a society, we face numerous challenges. At Eindhoven Engine, a collaborative program between companies, knowledge institutions, social organizations and citizens in the Brainport region, work has been going on for years on innovations to address these problems. Now the program is breaking new ground.

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Sustainable medical mouth-nose masks

The focus of this project is to bring a new type of FFP2 mask, the Pro-Mouth-nose mask, to the market. This mask is more sustainable than other masks and offers a higher guarantee of delivery as the entire production chain will take place in Europe.

Start year 2021
End year 2022

About the project

The project started with a feasibility study on market introduction. The mouth-nose mask is an innovative product that is made almost entirely (95%) from biological renewable raw materials: PLA with bio-PP for a filtering effect and recycled steel for the nose bridge. As the mouth-nose mask is 20-45% lighter, less raw materials are used.

The development and production of the new ProM mask will be more sustainable by using the knowledge and skills of previous in-house development and production processes combined with the knowledge and expertise of prominent Dutch scientific knowledge and training institutes.

Together, we aim for a sustainable future by making and keeping innovative, sustainable mouth-nose masks available for healthcare in the Netherlands and, where possible, the rest of Europe.

We have been able to produce a new affordable and sustainable FFP2 medical mask. These masks are ready to be tested and certified by the proper notified bodies in 2023 and may eventually be brought to the market.

This research is supported by Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).

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MEDICAID

Partners

Start year 2018
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PerStim

Partners

Start year 2018
End year 2023

A non-invasive approach to treatment

Using EEG- and MR-imaging based transcranial electrical stimulation, the Eindhoven Engine project PerStim (Personalized neurostimulation) investigates how treatments for patients with refractory focal epilepsy and prevalent co-morbid disorders can be personalized effectively. Via transcutaneous direct/alternating current stimulation (tDCS/tACS), the overall aim is to develop personalized, non-invasive neurostimulation protocols to provide (non-)refractory epilepsy patients with a better quality of life. This non-invasive approach to treatment is a method whereby an operation is not needed and treatment outside the body, as it were, is made possible.

Tight technical-clinical cooperation

To realize these ambitions, TU/e has teamed up with Philips Electronics Nederland B.V. and Kempenhaeghe, the Academic Center for Epileptology. UZ Ghent is also involved through the part-time neuromodulation chair of Professor Paul Boon. PPP Allowance co-funding has been made available to Epilepsiefonds by Health~Holland’s Top Sector Life Sciences & Health in order to stimulate public-private partnerships. Project partner meetings take place approximately once per month, with Fontys and TU/e student projects expected to be held in Eindhoven Engine’s building Disruptor. Such close collaboration and the integration of their results in clinical trials will allow for direct testing of PerStim’s neurostimulation hypothesis.

First clinical study

With the support of Eindhoven Engine, PerStim successfully completed the first clinical study and developed a suitable skull model to commence the second clinical study. The project also integrated two Fontys students into the team, whose contributions will be included in a PhD thesis. Additionally, a spin-off project was launched under PerStim to extend the non-invasive neurostimulation approach to transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation. This initiative was further bolstered by recruiting an additional postdoc, in collaboration with the Donders Institute in Nijmegen.

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In the Netherlands one third of the epilepsy patients (100.000+) keep having seizures; even after trying several medicines. The next treatment will be surgery. But there is a promising alternative treatment: neurostimulation.

Rob Mestrom – Project Leader

In this project PerStim Rob Mestrom and his team do research in personalizing neurostimulation for epileptic patients. He does this with a tight technical clinical cooperation with partners TU/e, Philips Electronics, Kempenhaeghe, UZ Ghent, and Epilepsiefonds.

Steven Beumer – PhD candidate

Steven Beumer uses brain images and brain recordings to try to optimize stimulation protocol for patients. Together with Fontys graduation students, they are working on artificially skull that mimics the real skull and its electrical properties.

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Neurotrend

Partners

Start year 2018
End year 2023
Project website Neurotrend

The aim of this project is to arrive at a reliable objective diagnostic technique based on functional MRI scans of the patient, and ultimately to apply these in decision support systems for diagnosis, patient stratification and therapy selection. This can significantly reduce the burden of disease and costs, and can also create an important new market for MRI scanners.

With support from Eindhoven Engine, the project initiated student internships and graduation projects that contributed to valuable research outputs, which were then shared with the Eindhoven Engine community. During the project period, Neurotrend gained valuable insights into imaging and AI through project update meetings and discussions

Key benefits included:

  • Creating opportunities to share and discuss Neurotrend’s study results.
  • Providing a facility for work and meetings in a multidisciplinary environment.
  • Hosting thematic sessions that offered useful information on specific topics, applicable to ongoing research.

This collaborative effort not only advanced research but also fostered a vibrant, knowledge-sharing community.

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More project info

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So-STRAP

Social connectedness and Self TRAcking for Prevention and diagnosis of heart disease

Partners

Start year 2019

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IntelLight+

Partners

Start project 2020
Sietse de Vries

A photorealistic simulation of dynamic natural light for perception in VR

Sietse, an EngD trainee on the Intellight project, is working on a photorealistic simulation of dynamic natural light for perception in virtual reality. Light is an environmental factor that directly and indirectly impacts human health and well-being through processes affecting circadian rhythm, arousal and alertness, as well as comfort and visual interest.

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Wombath

Start year 2020
Project website Perinatal Life Support

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POWEr FITTing

Partners

Start year 2020

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Marieke van Beurden – Project leader

The POWerFITTing project focuses on the optimization of a person’s vitality both at work and the (home) office to remain healthy and productive.

Steven Vos – Professor Fontys & TU/e

We are optimizing the relationship between vitality and the (home) office environment. By taking into account individual, societal and contextual factors, this enables employees to remain both healthy and productive.

Hans Brombacher – PhD candidate

Hans, PhD candidate in the POWErFITTing project, researches the improvement of a healthier and active environment for people in (home) offices. By the combination of data acquisition, integration and application for the validation and acceleration of user-oriented solutions, Hans is optimizing the relationship between vitality and the (home) office environment.

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AUXSTENT

Unlocking mechanical limitations of synthetic heart stents with auxetic,
fiber tubular scaffolds.

Partners

Start year 2022

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WECARE

Partners:

Start year 2022

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