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Design and development of experimental medical equipment at PTE 3D Center
Published on 21 April 2020
Zsolt Pálmai (Mr.)
deputy director
About this good practice
The design and development of experimental medical equipment activities carried out in cooperation with medical technology business actors illustrates well one of the main excellence application domains of the medtech sector in South Transdanubia, Hungary. The need that emerging technology and the successful market implementation of medical simulation solutions should be closely linked with each other is also reflected in this regional good practice.
Given the fact that intricate and acute attention is witnessed in the development of robotic and rehabilitative robotics solutions from the onset, the Medical Working Group of the PTE 3D Center applies a comprehensive approach to research, related technology development and market implementation. This requires that its researchers routinely conduct fundamental research on 3D printed material testing, whilst parallelly expanding the medical technology product development portfolio, based on their market partnerships.
Recent research projects of the working group include effective design of experimental equipment and prototype manufacturing, 3D printing material technology research, rehabilitation robotics development (for example upper limb rehabilitation, or lower extremity of the active human exoskeleton), and designing and manufacturing of medical simulation equipment.
Main stakeholders are working group researchers and medical technology companies. Eventually, hospitals and patients are the main beneficiaries.
Given the fact that intricate and acute attention is witnessed in the development of robotic and rehabilitative robotics solutions from the onset, the Medical Working Group of the PTE 3D Center applies a comprehensive approach to research, related technology development and market implementation. This requires that its researchers routinely conduct fundamental research on 3D printed material testing, whilst parallelly expanding the medical technology product development portfolio, based on their market partnerships.
Recent research projects of the working group include effective design of experimental equipment and prototype manufacturing, 3D printing material technology research, rehabilitation robotics development (for example upper limb rehabilitation, or lower extremity of the active human exoskeleton), and designing and manufacturing of medical simulation equipment.
Main stakeholders are working group researchers and medical technology companies. Eventually, hospitals and patients are the main beneficiaries.
Resources needed
Project GINOP-2.3.2-15-2016-00022 "Development of an Interdisciplinary Research, Education and Development Center using 3D Printing and Visualization Technologies at the University of Pécs" has 1.86 billion HUF (5.167 million EUR), with 100% ERDF financing, and employs 20 people full time.
Evidence of success
Corvus-Med Ltd, manufacturer-distributor of artificial limbs, plastic and textile corsets and various walking machines relocated its premises to PTE 3D Center. Due to close proximity of combined research, development and production capacities, delivery of a patent ”myoelectric” upper limb prosthesis is supported by decades of manufacturing and application experience of Corvus-Med Ltd.
Potential for learning or transfer
The PTE 3D Center Good Practice well illustrates that novel directions of medical technology research should be coupled with market focused product-service development and industrial relations. As the Center has several working groups operating, each one focuses on a different field of science and the relevant research directions of that. Considering innovative ways of cooperation among different sciences for a given, commonly set purpose will provide for enhanced effectiveness or novel scientific results. In case speaking about one sole scientific field, effectiveness and sustainability is highly enhanced by involving market actors into the research-innovation-prototyping-commercialisation processes.
European regions seeking for comprehensive, target focused research and development activities are encouraged to study the PTE 3D Center Good Practice in detail.
European regions seeking for comprehensive, target focused research and development activities are encouraged to study the PTE 3D Center Good Practice in detail.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
Organisation
PTE 3D Center (University of Pécs, Medical School, Department of Biophysics) Abbreviation of PTE stands for Pécsi Tudományegyetem in Hungarian. Its English translation is University of Pécs.
Hungary
Dél-Dunántúl
Contact
Zsolt Pálmai (Mr.)
deputy director