This article was discussed in our <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wevolver.com/profile/the.next.byte&source=gmail&ust=1644968784999000&usg=AOvVaw3LkINq0LiY7h67PeTzDSu1" href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/the.next.byte" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Next Byte podcast</a>.&nbsp;<iframe height="200px" width="100%" frameborder="no" scrolling="no" seamless="" src="https://player.simplecast.com/487cf2f7-0aa9-4af6-a0d2-bc63a132b240?dark=false" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe>The full article will continue below.<hr>Human cells in a 3D printer that can be used to cover wounds like a sticking plaster – this is the long-term goal of the Bioprint FirstAid experiment. As part of his '<a href="https://www.dlr.de/content/en/missions/cosmic-kiss.html" target="_blank" title="Matthias Maurer's Cosmic Kiss mission">Cosmic Kiss</a>' mission, German ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer has now carried out this series of experiments on the <a href="https://www.dlr.de/content/en/missions/iss.html" target="_blank" title="The ISS – humanity's largest outpost in space">International Space Station ISS</a>. The mobile handheld device is intended to significantly improve wound treatment on space missions, but also in daily medical use on Earth. "With Bioprint FirstAid, this innovative technology has now been tested under space conditions for the first time," says Michael Becker, Bioprint FirstAid Project Manager for the <a href="https://www.dlr.de/rd/en/desktopdefault.aspx/" target="_blank" title="External link The German Space Agency at DLR">German Space Agency at the German Aerospace Center</a> (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR). "Bioprinting is an important step towards personalised medicine in space and on Earth."<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjQzODgzMTQ2NzQ3LWJpb3ByaW50ZXItZmlyc3RhaWQtZGV2aWNlLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The Bioprinter FirstAid device. Credit: OHBThe Bioprinter can be operated manually and consists of a handle, a print head, guide wheels and two cartridges for the bio-ink that is used to produce the plaster-like wound covering. During the experiment on the ISS, this ink was first applied to a foil on Matthias Maurer's leg. Two bio-inks with different compositions and two different print heads were used. "The technology experiment has not yet used real human cells in this first step, but fluorescent microparticles," says Becker. "The findings will help scientists to further develop the technology and enable applications for patients."<h2>Improved wound healing in space and on Earth</h2>Due to its compact design and easy, mobile use, the printing technology has great potential not only for use in medical practices and clinics, but also for flexible treatment in remote locations or places that are difficult to access. Thus, the Bioprinter can be used on future long-term space missions as well as at research stations in remote locations, such as Antarctica.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjQzODgzMTg5MjkxLWJpb3ByaW50ZXItYmlvcGxhc3Rlci1vbi1sZWcuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Bioplaster on Matthias Maurer's leg. Credit: NASA/ESAOnce the experiment has been completed, the patches printed on the ISS will be brought back to Earth for further testing and analysis. In the meantime, scientists from the <a href="https://tu-dresden.de/?set_language=en" target="_blank" title="External link Dresden University of Technology">Technische Universität Dresden</a> (TU Dresden) are conducting comparative experiments on the ground to verify the results of the ISS experiment following the return of the plasters. This investigation aims to explore the behaviour of the system as a function of different pressure nozzles and different bio-inks. In addition, the distribution of microparticles in microgravity will be investigated.To discuss the possible applications of 3D printing in medicine at an international level, the German Space Agency at DLR, the European Space Agency (ESA) and TU Dresden are planning to hold a workshop on 'Bioprinting in Space' on 15 and 16 March 2022 in Dresden. Astronauts as well as experts from the fields of bioprinting and life science research in space will participate in this exchange.The Bioprint FirstAid experiment was implemented on behalf of the German Space Agency at DLR with funding from the German <a href="https://www.bmwi.de/Navigation/EN/Home/home.html" target="_blank" title="External link German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK)">Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action</a> (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz; BMWK). The system was developed and built by <a href="https://www.ohb-system.de/" target="_blank" title="External link OHB System AG">OHB System AG</a> in collaboration with scientists from <a href="https://tu-dresden.de/?set_language=en" target="_blank" title="External link Dresden University of Technology">TU Dresden</a>.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjQzODgzMjE3NjYxLWJpb3ByaW50ZXItcGxhc3Rlci1jcmVhdGVkLXVzaW5nLWJpby1pbmsuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Sticking plaster created using bio-ink. Credit: NASA/ESA<h2>The 'Cosmic Kiss' mission</h2>DLR is involved in the 'Cosmic Kiss' mission in many ways. The German Space Agency at DLR, based in Bonn, is responsible for selecting and coordinating the experiments and contributions from German universities and colleges, as well as from industry. DLR scientists are also conducting their own experiments. ESA's <a href="https://www.dlr.de/content/en/articles/missions-projects/iss/columbus-control-center.html" target="_blank" title="The Columbus Control Centre – Europe's link to the ISS">Columbus Control Centre</a>, located at DLR's <a href="https://www.dlr.de/rb/en/desktopdefault.aspx/" target="_blank" title="External link DLR Space Operations and Astronaut Training">German Space Operations Center</a> in Oberpfaffenhofen, is responsible for planning and conducting the experiments that take place in the European Columbus module on the ISS. From here, the data from the experiments are sent to the national user control centres and from there to the scientists and the participating industry partners.

Matthias Maurer conducting the Bioprint FirstAid Experiment. Credit: NASA/ESA

Human cells in a 3D printer that can be used to cover wounds like a sticking plaster – this is the long-term goal of the Bioprint FirstAid experiment. As part of his 'Cosmic Kiss' mission, German ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer has now carried out this series of experiments on the ISS.

3D-printed bio-plaster

Many of us have injured a tendon either abruptly during sports activities, or as a result of daily wear-and-tear from overusing them. Torn or strained tendons – most commonly Achilles, flexor, or rotator cuff tendons – can cause persistent pain, and take a long time to heal after surgeries, especially in the elderly. This is not surprising since the brilliant white cords that connect our muscles to our bones have to regenerate their ability to transmit the strong mechanical forces that allow our joints to move.There is an acute, unmet medical need for more effective therapies to treat tendon injuries. Despite advances in surgical methods, new graft therapies, and more effective rehabilitation, severely injured tendons rarely regain the structural integrity and mechanical strength of healthy tendons, which often places a chronic burden on patients.Now, a collaborative research team led by <a href="https://www.seas.harvard.edu/person/david-mooney" target="_blank">David Mooney,</a> the Robert P. Pinkas Family Professor of Bioengineering at the Harvard <a href="https://www.seas.harvard.edu/" target="_blank">John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences</a> (SEAS), and Core Faculty member at Harvard’s <a href="https://wyss.harvard.edu/" target="_blank">Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering</a>, Eckhard Weber, of the <a href="https://www.novartis.com/research-development/novartis-institutes-biomedical-research" target="_blank">Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research</a> (NIBR), and Daniel Kaufmann, of the Novartis Technical Research and Development, developed a new biomaterial-based tendon therapy that addresses key challenges in the regeneration process. The two-sided material firmly adheres to tendons with one of its specifically engineered surfaces, while allowing normal gliding of healing tendons with its opposite mechanically tough yet elastic surface. Importantly, “Janus Tough Adhesives” (JTAs) can also act as high-capacity drug depots, slowly releasing small molecules into tendon tissue to help facilitate healing. The researchers compellingly demonstrated the regenerative abilities of drug-free and drug-loaded JTA versions in a series of injury-relevant, pre-clinical tendon models, and reported their findings in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41551-021-00810-0" target="_blank">Nature Biomedical Engineering.</a>“JTAs with their combination of tissue-specific capabilities offer a new opportunity to overcome current insufficiencies in tendon regeneration across multiple types of injuries, and could help many patients regain more normal tendon functions and mobility,” said Mooney. “Our exceptional partnership with multi-disciplinary research groups at Novartis, besides providing highly complementary technical, modeling and experimental expertise, also enabled us, for the first time, to optimize and apply a Tough Gel Adhesive for the local delivery of a small molecule drug, which was one of our early goals.”JTAs are the latest example of biomaterial-based adhesives developed by Mooney’s team as part of their Tough Gel Adhesive platform technology, which originally was inspired by the tough mucus produced by the Dusky Arion (Arion subfuscus) slug. Previously, the researchers had engineered non-toxic, hydrogel-based biomaterials that can adhere to diverse <a href="https://www.seas.harvard.edu/news/2017/07/sticky-when-wet-strong-adhesives-wound-healing" target="_blank">wet surfaces</a>, including injured tissues still covered with blood, and withstand the mechanical stress produced by friction in the moving tissues. These features make them highly useful as tissue sealants (adhesives used to hold tissues together that were severed by injuries) and wound dressings, as current adhesive materials don’t fulfill these essential requirements.To create Tough Gel Adhesives tailored to tendon regeneration, “we forward-engineered an alginate-polyacrylamide-based hydrogel into a two-sided biomaterial, essentially, by modifying one of its surfaces with a sugar known as chitosan, which we showed allows firm bonding to tendons. The unmodified side could simultaneously enable gliding under the continued friction tendons that are exposed during movement,” said first-author and Postdoctoral Fellow <a href="https://wyss.harvard.edu/team/postdoctoral-fellow/benjamin-freedman/" target="_blank">Benjamin Freedman</a>, who spearheaded the study in Mooney’s lab in close collaboration with the Novartis research groups. “Within this ‘Janus-faced’ hydrogel, we then loaded a model drug that could be slowly released and chemically reduce inflammation.”<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/647895018" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" style="width: 767px; height: 429px;"></iframe><a href="https://vimeo.com/647895018" id="isPasted" target="_blank">Janus Tough Adhesives for Tendon Repair</a>&nbsp;from <a href="https://vimeo.com/wyssinstitute" target="_blank">Wyss Institute</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/" target="_blank">Vimeo</a>.&nbsp;Freedman and his co-workers are developing JTAs as off-the-shelf biomaterials for easy use by surgeons. All the biomaterial components in JTAs, including chitosan, which is obtained from the shells of crustaceans, are biocompatible and already used in other medical applications.At the start of the project, Freedman had a mini sabbatical at Novartis in Basel, Switzerland, to collaboratively define and stress-test the targeted profile of the tendon therapeutic. A vivid back-and-forth of experimental results obtained on both sides of the Atlantic, and monthly conference calls between the Harvard and the Novartis teams propelled the research forward. In their concerted effort, the teams demonstrated that JTAs robustly bonded to blood-coated isolated porcine tendons and they found them to bind stronger to the different types of tendons than the existing tissue adhesives TISSEEL, Dermabond, and SurgiCel. They also implanted JTAs next to the patellar, foot flexor, and Achilles tendons of a rat in vivo model and confirmed their strong tendon adhesion non-invasively with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and high frequency ultrasound.To show that JTAs’ resilience and elasticity protected tendons and enabled them to glide, the researchers attached them to the flexor tendons of human cadaveric hands, extending and flexing the wrists over hundreds of cycles: they noticed no signs of wear or disintegration.“Importantly, when we applied JTAs to ruptured patellar tendons of rats, they remained in place over their three-week implantation and facilitated tendon healing. They also reduced the formation of scars by 25%, compared to surgically repaired tendons that we didn’t treat with JTAs,” said Freedman.Scarring normally accompanies healing as a result of inflammation and causes long-term loss of tendon functionality.Using a patellar injury model in rats, the researchers investigated the effects of a corticosteroid, an anti-inflammatory model drug, that was encapsulated and released in a sustained manner from JTAs. Using state-of-the-art imaging technologies and molecular immunoassays, they showed that, in the tendons treated with corticosteroid-loaded JTAs, the inflammation subsided significantly faster.“Therapies for tendon repair and regeneration should be ideally adaptive by nature, and cover the spectrum from resolution of inflammation and pain to restoration of tendon tissue matrix and function,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Michaela Kneissel, Global Head of the Musculoskeletal Disease Area at NIBR. “The combination of&nbsp;active pharmaceutical ingredients&nbsp;with&nbsp;Janus Tough Adhesives has the potential to become a promising avenue for such an adaptive therapy, with release and activity of&nbsp;pharmaceutical&nbsp;ingredients gated by the JTAs to better facilitate tendon repair and regeneration,”&nbsp;she added.<hr>Other authors on the study are Sungmin Nam, Daniel Kent, Anna Rock, and Yann Tinguely on Mooney’s team at Harvard; Markus Kurz, Andreas Kuttler, Nicolau Beckmann, Michael Schuleit, Farshad Ramazani, Nathalie Accart, Andreas Fisch, and Thomas Ullrich, members of the research teams at Novartis; and Jianyu Li, Assistant Professor at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, who co-developed the first Tough Gel Adhesives in Mooney’s group.

The development of the Janus Tough Adhesive originally was inspired by the tough mucus produced by the Dusky Arion (Arion subfucus) slug. Shown here, it is applied to a tendon within a joint, where its two sides, respectively, enable tight adhesion to tendon tissue and gliding of the protected tendon within its normal joint environment. Credit: Wyss Institute at Harvard University

A Janus-faced biomaterial that firmly adheres to injured tendons and helps them glide, also slowly releases drugs to tendon cells, which could improve repair in patients across multiple injuries

Towards more effective tendon repair with a multi-functional biomaterial

Chronic tinnitus is often a never-ending torture for those affected. However, the Austrian inventor Klaus Grübl has recently developed a medical aid that can help patients, with support from digital manufacturing specialist <a href="https://www.protolabs.co.uk/?utm_source=wevolver&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=uk-forgtin-case-study-1021&utm_content=wevolver-forgtin-case-study-1021" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Protolabs</a>.Whistling, hissing or whooshing - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This is the bitter reality for those with tinnitus aurium. 15 percent of the population are affected by so-called phantom noises at least once in their life and, for many sufferers, chronic tinnitus is a constant companion to everyday life. The consequences can vary depending on the exact clinical picture, but this untreatable condition often causes sleep disorders, unfitness for work and depression.As contradictory as it sounds in view of the clinical picture, tinnitus is usually an acquired condition - regardless of the various causes that can lead to the phantom noises. Subjective tinnitus (the form in which no physical sound sources cause background noise) is a complaint that usually arises in the auditory cortex in the brain. A triggering event, for example acoustic shock or sudden hearing loss, can lead to previously healthy synaptic connections losing their actual purpose and causing tinnitus through abnormal activity. The resulting persistent neuronal firing becomes firmly established in some people and chronic tinnitus becomes a self-acquired annoying background. <h3>From Self-help to External Help</h3>Klaus Grübl was himself affected by chronic tinnitus for a long time. The entrepreneur, who actually comes from the field of adult education, has lived with tinnitus for 19 years, which included a constant whistling which didn't go away. In a quiet moment, when Grübl became particularly aware of tinnitus due to the lack of ambient noise, he began to apply constant pressure for several minutes to a certain point of the ear. After a while he found the sound became noticeably quieter. Spurred on by this initial success, Grübl began the very next day to pursue his assumption that there might be a connection between the pressure exerted and the improvement in symptoms. A short time later, he incorporated an initial prototype into his everyday life which was attached to his glasses and exerted pressure at three points on the ear - and the tinnitus disappeared completely.Grübl explains that the reason for the sudden success with this form of therapy is down to the primary cause of the symptoms. The pressure exerted on the various points on the ear stimulates the corresponding region in the auditory cortex which is also responsible for chronic tinnitus. The synaptic connections that cause the unpleasant noise are less stressed and the brain slowly forgets the actual cause of the whistling sound.Spurred on by this initial success, Klaus Grübl founded Pansatori GmbH which was to further develop, produce and ultimately sell the new product ForgTin – an abbreviation of Forget Tinnitus. It has been over a year since then and one non-clinical study has already been conducted; a medical study will follow and ForgTin is about to launch in the market.Grübl is convinced of the potential of his invention: “In our first study with 20 patients, the participants’ subjectively perceived tinnitus decreased by between 30 and 100 percent. Building on these results, a clinical study is now also planned to further investigate the effectiveness of ForgTin. In the meantime, we are about to launch our product and I look forward to being able to help the first patients this autumn.” <h3>Alliance Against Tinnitus</h3>From the original concept to the finished product, a lot of engineering and design went into ForgTin. While the initial prototypes, which Grübl and his designer and constructor made using 3D printers at home, were made of plastic and were non-flexible, Pansatori GmbH soon began to work with professional 3D printing service providers. During this part of the project, contact was established with manufacturing service provider Protolabs, a company specialising in additive manufacturing and the manufacture of prototypes in the medical sector amongst other things. “It was clear to us early on that there was no getting around <a href="https://www.protolabs.co.uk/services/3d-printing/?utm_source=wevolver&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=uk-forgtin-case-study-1021&utm_content=wevolver-forgtin-case-study-1021" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="3D Printing">3D printing</a>. ForgTin consists of complex geometries and must ultimately be customisable and adaptable so that anyone affected can use the device,” explains Grübl. “Together with my designer, I first came across Protolabs in July 2020. After initial contact in mid-July, work started right away.”Overall ForgTin consists of several individual parts that Grübl designed together with his developer. Behind the outer ear lies the upper bracket which, like an earpiece on spectacles, holds ForgTin in position and covers one of the pressure points. The upper bracket is connected to the lower one by a split pin which leads past the earlobe to the tragus (prominence) in front of the external auditory canal. Here, and behind the ear, there are also the two additional pressure points which combat tinnitus by applying constant pressure. Finally, ForgTin is rounded off with <a href="https://www.protolabs.co.uk/services/injection-moulding/liquid-silicone-rubber/?utm_source=wevolver&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=uk-forgtin-case-study-1021&utm_content=wevolver-forgtin-case-study-1021" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Liquid Silicone Rubber">silicone</a> elements which are essential for wearing comfort. “Immediately after we uploaded the design data to the automated feasibility analysis on the Protolabs website, we received initial suggestions for improvement,” Grübl sums up. “From our very first conversation, we already knew that we were in good hands with Protolabs, but this step finally initiated batch production.” <img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1635332854250-forgtin-wevolver-article.png" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"> <h3>With Additive Manufacturing to Market Maturity</h3>Together with Protolabs, it was decided that the lower bracket, which is easier to manufacture, should be cut out of stainless steel sheets using lasers. Additive manufacturing was used for the upper bracket, due to the complex geometry that is necessary for the desired functionality. “After just a few improvement cycles in which the experts from Protolabs were by our side, we were able to finally complete the design process and take care of the necessary post-processing and the silicone elements,” reports Klaus Grübl. For the material, the decision was made to use alloy stainless steel 316L, which is commonly used in medical devices, and was smelted into shape using <a href="https://www.protolabs.co.uk/services/3d-printing/direct-metal-laser-sintering/?utm_source=wevolver&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=uk-forgtin-case-study-1021&utm_content=wevolver-forgtin-case-study-1021" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Direct Metal Laser Sintering">direct metal laser sintering</a> (DMLS) – metal 3D printing. After the individual parts were reworked by vibratory finishing so that they were less rough and therefore more comfortable to wear, the surface of the metal pieces underwent passivation. This refinement prevents the alloy from releasing nickel which causes allergies in some people.Before final assembly, the silicone elements - which also improve skin contact - were injected onto the work-piece using <a href="https://www.protolabs.co.uk/services/injection-moulding/?utm_source=wevolver&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=uk-forgtin-case-study-1021&utm_content=wevolver-forgtin-case-study-1021" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Injection Moulding">injection moulding</a>. “Thanks to this close collaboration, we were able to start production within just eight weeks of the initial conversation with Protolabs,” explains Grübl. “The fact that the parts meet the high standards of medical aids is just as advantageous as the fact that assembly can take place at Protolabs.”For Klaus Grübl, a major advantage of the collaboration is that Protolabs holds certification for the manufacture of medical products. “We are certified according to ISO 13485:2016 and also produce surgical implants and various other products that are used in medicine,” explains Christoph Erhardt, Director of Additive Manufacturing at Protolabs. “We also provided major impetus and assistance in the further development of ForgTin and were able to be market-ready quickly.”For Klaus Grübl, too, the collaboration was a great benefit: “From the human side, everything from the first conversation to the present day was perfect. Protolabs understood exactly where we want to go and how we envision the path to the finished product. Collaborating with Protolabs’ extremely competent, helpful and pleasant staff was a pleasure and really helped us!” <h3>The Sound of Silence</h3>The market launch of ForgTin is currently planned for the late autumn of 2021 and will probably help many people to alleviate their constant tinnitus considerably. In order to be able to take this major step, Grübl had to find a suitable production partner as well as a way for ForgTin to meet all requirements so that this little everyday helper would be recognised as a class 1 medical aid and thus receive CE certification. “We have now met the legal requirements for medical aids and we have been officially authorised since mid-August,” says a delighted Klaus Grübl.For a creative tinkerer, the work does not stop there. At the moment he is designing a version of the ForgTin that can also be worn at night without disturbing sleep. Because the goal has been clear since the beginning of the project: tinnitus patients should be able to enjoy the sound of silence again. <blockquote>"Collaborating with Protolabs’ extremely competent, helpful and pleasant staff was a pleasure and really helped us.”Klaus Grübl, CEO pansatori GmbH&nbsp;</blockquote>&nbsp;Want to learn more about how&nbsp;<a href="https://www.protolabs.co.uk/?utm_source=wevolver&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=uk-forgtin-case-study-1021&utm_content=wevolver-forgtin-case-study-1021" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Protolabs</a>&nbsp;supports similar businesses with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.protolabs.co.uk/services/cnc-machining/?utm_source=wevolver&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=uk-forgtin-case-study-1021&utm_content=wevolver-forgtin-case-study-1021" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CNC machined</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.protolabs.co.uk/services/injection-moulding/?utm_source=wevolver&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=uk-forgtin-case-study-1021&utm_content=wevolver-forgtin-case-study-1021" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">injection moulded</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.protolabs.co.uk/services/3d-printing/?utm_source=wevolver&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=uk-forgtin-case-study-1021&utm_content=wevolver-forgtin-case-study-1021" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">3D printed</a>&nbsp;prototypes?

Forgtin, which was developed with Protolabs, supports those with tinnitus by limiting its effects by anywhere between 30 and 100 percent.

Forgtin: A Vital Medical Device Quickly Made Market-ready with the Support of Protolabs

In this episode, we talk about the smart t-shirt that’ll track astronauts' vitals while they hang out in microgravity and a research effort that aims to study the physiology of freedivers to assist cardiac surgery patients. As always, you can find these and other interesting &amp; impactful engineering articles on Wevolver.com.&nbsp;<iframe height="200px" width="100%" frameborder="no" scrolling="no" seamless="" src="https://player.simplecast.com/9e2f403d-e8d9-4e0f-8bdb-dbdd1d237077?dark=false" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe> <hr>This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://www2.mouser.com/" id="isPasted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mouser Electronics</a>.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjMyODE2MzY5MjIxLU1vdXNlci1zcG9uc29yLTEtYS5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><hr><h3 id="isPasted">EPISODE NOTES</h3>(1:20) - Smart T-shirt measures astronaut vital signs :&nbsp;Fun fact: astronauts lose up to 20% of muscle mass during their missions. If we want to make long-term space missions, we need to understand why and how&nbsp;this muscle atrophy takes place. That’s exactly what the German Aerospace Center aims to accomplish with their smart T-shirt and astronaut Matthias Maurer will be the first to bring the modern era of fashion to the new space age during his upcoming mission in the ISS.(10:35) - Wearable Tech Aids Freedivers, Cardiac Patients: Freedivers are essentially superhumans and researchers want to leverage the mechanics of their physiology by using it to prepare cardiovascular patients for surgery. The key to this effort is accurate real time data which is where Carnegie Mellon University’s special headband comes into play.&nbsp;<hr>About the podcast:Every day, some of the most innovative universities, companies, and individual technology developers share their knowledge on Wevolver. To ensure we can also provide this knowledge for the growing group of podcast listeners, we started a collaboration with two young engineers, Daniel Scott Mitchell &amp; Farbod Moghaddam who discuss the most interesting content in this podcast series.&nbsp;To learn more about this show, please visit the <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/the.next.byte" target="_blank">shows page</a>. By following the page, you will get automatic updates by email when a new show is published.Be sure to give us a follow and review on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/the-next-byte/id1548255861?l=en" target="_blank">Apple</a> podcasts, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6lPPsRtegnivsRUEsQ09R7?si=IPMiah7xT_apJtPjqvXMlA" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, and most of your favorite podcast platforms!Take a few seconds to leave us a review. It really helps!&nbsp;<a href="https://apple.co/2RIsbZ2" target="_blank">https://apple.co/2RIsbZ2</a>if you do it and send us proof, we’ll give you a shoutout on the show.

In this episode, we talk about the smart t-shirt that’ll track astronauts' vitals while they hang out in microgravity and a research effort that aims to study the physiology of freedivers to assist cardiac surgery patients

Podcast: Smart T-Shirts: Next-Gen Astronaut Wearables

In this episode, we talk about how mantis shrimps will pave the way for next-gen robotics and what bio-hybrid robots could mean for sustainable unmanned operations. As always, you can find these and other interesting &amp; impactful engineering articles on Wevolver.com.<iframe height="200px" width="100%" frameborder="no" scrolling="no" seamless="" src="https://player.simplecast.com/73315918-52d3-4d8d-bffb-626e18ac77f3?dark=false" class="fr-draggable"></iframe>&nbsp;<h3 id="isPasted">EPISODE NOTES</h3>(1:23) -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/robot-mimics-the-powerful-punch-of-the-mantis-shrimp" target="_blank">Robot Mimics Mantis Shrimp</a>:&nbsp;Meet the mantis shrimp; a 2-7 inch crustacean capable of creating temperatures near that of the sun&rsquo;s surface by the flick of their wrists. A group of scientists from numerous institutions have been investigating this curious sea dweller to understand how the mechanics of this phenomena work and how we can replicate it to be utilized in different applications.(13:15) - Collagen For Biohybrid Robots: Is the renowned HBO original Westworld the first thing that pops into your mind when you hear &ldquo;biohybrid robots&rdquo;? Well, us too! However, a research team from Carnegie Mellon University wants to change that by developing robotic systems composed of biological matter so that underwater explorations or search and rescue missions don&rsquo;t damage the ecosystem in which they operate.--About the podcast:Every day, some of the most innovative universities, companies, and individual technology developers share their knowledge on Wevolver. To ensure we can also provide this knowledge for the growing group of podcast listeners, we started a collaboration with two young engineers, Daniel Scott Mitchell &amp; Farbod Moghaddam who discuss the most interesting content in this podcast series.&nbsp;To learn more about this show, please visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/the.next.byte" target="_blank">shows page</a>. By following the page, you will get automatic updates by email when a new show is published.Be sure to give us a follow and review on&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/the-next-byte/id1548255861?l=en" target="_blank">Apple</a> podcasts,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6lPPsRtegnivsRUEsQ09R7?si=IPMiah7xT_apJtPjqvXMlA" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, and most of your favorite podcast platforms!Take a few seconds to leave us a review. It really helps!&nbsp;<a href="https://apple.co/2RIsbZ2" target="_blank">https://apple.co/2RIsbZ2</a>if you do it and send us proof, we&rsquo;ll give you a shoutout on the show.

In this episode, we talk about how mantis shrimps will pave the way for next-gen robotics and what bio-hybrid robots could mean for sustainable unmanned operations.

Podcast: The Feisty Crustacean That Inspired A New Generation of Super Robots

In this episode, we talk about how MIT engineers have proven a way to detect the presence and location of origin for cancer cells in pee using nanoparticles, the robotic neck brace developed by Columbia University researchers to accurately diagnose the source of neck pain in cancer patients, and a novel method to reduce the noise generated by airplanes during landing proposed by Texas A&amp;M. As always, you can find these and other interesting &amp; impactful engineering articles on Wevolver.com.<iframe height="200px" width="100%" frameborder="no" scrolling="no" seamless="" src="https://player.simplecast.com/3dd80443-495c-42de-ba81-d0e011b6adea?dark=false" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe>&nbsp;<h3 id="isPasted">EPISODE NOTES</h3>(0:55) - Using Nanoparticles To Detect Cancer In Pee:&nbsp;A team of MIT engineers have come up with a way to detect the presence of cancer and localize the region of origin by analyzing a patient’s pee sample. The patient can either inhale or be injected with nanoparticles that’ll exit the body via urine and a paper test - similar to over the counter pregnancy tests - can be used to determine if the patient has cancer. Additionally, if the patient does test positive, the nanoparticles can be coated with a radioactive tracer to show medical professionals the source of the growth via PET scans.(8:20) - Robotic Neck Brace:&nbsp;Head and neck cancer is the 7th most common type of cancer in the world and doctors typically surgically remove a patient's lymph nodes to examine how the cancer will spread; however, this approach results in severe neck and shoulder pain. This type of pain is difficult to characterize because current methods are either too timely to set up or they’re simply inaccurate but that is exactly what a group of Columbia researchers hoped to address. Two professors have teamed up to create a robotic neck brace capable of recording a patient’s full range of head/neck motion. The duo have proven that by recording data before and after the surgery will allow medical professionals to understand what areas have been affected and what specific types of physical therapy to prescribe.&nbsp;(13:55) - Quiet Landing Airplanes:&nbsp;If you live near an airport (like us) then you know how disturbing the sound of planes taking off and landing can be. Fortunately, a team of engineers at Texas A&amp;M University have proposed a design modification to the slats on aircraft wings that could reduce the noise generated upon landing to that of the quietest planes. Their simulations have been promising so now they will be working on creating a scale model to test out and hopefully it works so The Next Byte crew can have an easier time living near the airport.&nbsp;--About the podcast:Every day, some of the most innovative universities, companies, and individual technology developers share their knowledge on Wevolver. To ensure we can also provide this knowledge for the growing group of podcast listeners, we started a collaboration with two young engineers, Daniel Scott Mitchell &amp; Farbod Moghaddam who discuss the most interesting content in this podcast series.&nbsp;To learn more about this show, please visit the <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/the.next.byte" target="_blank">shows page</a>. By following the page, you will get automatic updates by email when a new show is published.Be sure to give us a follow and review on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/the-next-byte/id1548255861?l=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Apple</a> podcasts, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6lPPsRtegnivsRUEsQ09R7?si=IPMiah7xT_apJtPjqvXMlA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, and most of your favorite podcast platforms!

Schematic of the new robotic neck brace and a picture of a subject using the brace. (Left) A CAD drawing of the neck brace. (Right) A participant wearing the brace during experiments while sitting comfortably on a chair. Surface electrodes are mounted in the head and neck area to record muscle activity. Photo Credit: Sunil K. Agrawal, Roar Lab.

In this episode, we talk about how MIT engineers have proven a way to detect the presence of origin for cancer cells in pee using nanoparticles, the robotic neck brace developed by Columbia University researchers, and a novel method to reduce the noise generated by airplanes during landing.

Podcast: Detecting Cancer In Pee, Robotic Neck Brace, Quieter Airplanes

A man smarter than myself used to always tell me: “the paperwork is more important than the part”. To this day, I have not encountered a more accurate description of the medical device design process. &nbsp;&nbsp;A traceable design process means that for any product made, there is a paper trail that keeps track of all the design decisions and input parameters that define that product. Having a traceable process not only improves the credibility of a product, but it ensures that if anything goes wrong, a proper corrective and preventive action can be executed to resolve the issue. Not only is this generally a good practice to follow, but it is also a requirement to ensure your submission survives its review through any of the regulatory bodies. Though this is heavily emphasized during the manufacturing process, the software used is certainly not exempt from these considerations.nTopology takes traceability very seriously and offers a variety of ways to support the medical device industry. When a part is being designed in nTop Platform, the final output that is created is fully defined by the design steps taken to get there. If a single input parameter undergoes a change, the final output is, by definition, different. Though this may appear to be quite obvious, it is not a characteristic that can be fully taken advantage of in standard CAD tools. Though the technical nuances that distinguish traditional BRep modeling and nTopology’s implicit modeling can be discussed for days, the biggest takeaway is this:&nbsp;what explicitly defines a design workflow in traditional boundary representation technology can not be as cut-and-dry as it is in nTop Platform’s implicit modeling engine. nTopology software offers a traceable design process by the sheer nature of how it works.<h2>Reporting</h2>When designing in nTop Platform, the most immediate and noticeable difference in the interface is the Notebook. Where the sidebar would traditionally house a serialized and sequential flow of design operations of which chronology is critical, the Notebook is an environment where multiple design workflows can exist simultaneously. These workflows can originate from a base model and fork into an infinite number of design variations. Or, they can start with separate complex shapes and eventually converge on a single design workflow where one geometry influences the design elements of another. The ability to easily interweave workflows empowers the already heightened design capabilities of topology optimization, finite element analysis, and lattice generation. But at the same time, it also easily enables simple features like embedded reporting.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1626862787576-medical-1-1024x576.png" style="width: 788px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">When a design is being developed for a specific part, a “reporting workflow” can also be implemented simultaneously to capture all the pertinent information that comes into play. As a result, the output of every single design iteration can have an accompanying report generated to ensure that no valuable data is lost in the process.&nbsp;<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1626862804306-Traceability-Blog-2-1024x576.png" style="width: 788px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Along with a workflow that uniquely names each exported file, a single notebook becomes a powerful and cohesive collection of workflows that facilitates a traceable process. The value of this ecosystem becomes truly realized when a design process has been finalized and production-ready digital files need to be prepared.The nTop Platform Notebook becomes an automatable osseointegrative-lattice-generating machine that can churn through an entire part family with accurate file names and traceability reporting in a fraction of the time it would normally take.<h2>Version Control</h2>In the regulatory world, change can be frightening.&nbsp;Unprecedented change, however, can be catastrophic. A medical device that has passed initial clinical trials, may still fail inside the human body due to an unexpected change in a critical design area.A common approach taken to safeguard from this sort of event from occurring is to “lock down” the version of the software tool that was used, ensuring that version is maintained for the development and life of the product. This is a risk management strategy that has been heavily leveraged in the med-device industry to certify that an undocumented or infrastructural change in the way that software works does not impact their product in any damaging way.If an implant successfully gets through validation, any and all future design revisions must be performed in&nbsp;that version of the software. This seems great from a risk-averse perspective, but it also means that the organization needs to manage and maintain that state of the software in perpetuity. If future versions of that software offer new features or capabilities, that implant is potentially exempt from these benefits.An approach that nTopology has taken to combat this “version freeze” is to offer version control at a more granular level. Because a design workflow is made up of a series of nested “function blocks”, controlling the versions of each of these individual blocks will ensure that your process has stayed exactly the same, even when nTop Platform as a design environment continues to update.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1626862827397-medical-3-1024x576.png" style="width: 788px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">As individual blocks are updated and previous versions become obsolete, the functionality of those old blocks will continue to be available and supported. &nbsp;However, this doesn’t mean that nTopology sees this as a replacement mechanism to the current solution for version control. nTop Platform users still have the freedom to “freeze” their versions. This is just an approach that could make life easier.<hr>This article was first published on the&nbsp;<a href="https://ntopology.com/blog/2020/07/09/keeping-your-medical-device-design-process-traceable/" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">nTopology blog.</a>

Stochastic, Trabecular and Engineered Lattice Structures printed using EBM Technology

When it comes to regulatory oversight, traceability is more a requirement than a recommendation. However, that doesn’t mean implementing it into your processes needs to be an obstacle; nTop Platform offers traceability right out of the box.

 Keeping Your Medical Device Design Process Traceable

FullControl GCode Designer is new open-source and free software for the unconstrained design of additive manufacturing print paths and related aspects of the manufacturing plan.ChallengeThe conventional workflow for additive manufacturing is to develop a CAD model, convert it to triangulated STL surface geometry, slice that model into layers, identify the print path for each layer, and output a manufacturing file (GCode). Each stage introduces errors and limitations.SolutionIn contrast, FullControl GCode Designer (www.fullcontrolgcode.com) turns this whole process on its head. Rather than creating a CAD model and then determining how to move a print head around to simply fill the required 3D volume, FullControl GCode Designer allows the precise print path to be designed directly. This provides unparalleled design freedom and epitomizes the concept of Design for Additive Manufacturing. It allows the designer to think “What can I produce by moving a nozzle with a controlled extrusion rate?” which can allow dramatically different structures to those seen conventionally.<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KlxuZ5JnA0k?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" style="width: 789px; height: 441px;"></iframe>ResultsFullControl allows unlimited exploration of 3D space for printing and of the potential capabilities of 3D printers. It’s been used to print single extrusions 10x wider than the nozzle diameter and other extrusions 10x narrower than the nozzle diameter. That means a 100-fold difference in design resolution of fully dense extrusions is possible from a single system, which is entirely incomparable with conventional additive manufacturing print paths. It’s an example of how FullControl GCode Designer encourages innovative thinking beyond the general design rules, which are actually based on principles of printing with slicer software rather than the true capabilities of 3D printing hardware. Similarly, creating structures with innovative texture and porosity is possible when explicitly designing the 3D movement of the nozzle whilst extruding.<table style="width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="width: 50.0000%;"><div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjIwOTgyNjAwOTc0LVN0cmluZyBleGFtcGxlLnBuZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">String Example 10x Narrower&nbsp;</div></td><td style="width: 50.0000%;"><div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjIwOTgyNjIzOTA0LTEweCB3aWR0aCBleGFtcGxlLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="10x Width Example String Structure">10x Width Example String Structure&nbsp;</div></td></tr><tr><td style="width: 50.0000%;"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjIwOTgyODE3MjQzLVJhbWVuIGV4YW1wbGUuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Noodle-Like Structure Example </td><td style="width: 50.0000%;"> <div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjIwOTgyOTQwNTg1LVJpcHBsZSB0ZXh0dXJlIGV4YW1wbGUuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Ripple-Like Texture&nbsp;</div></td></tr></tbody></table><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Sj3Nqtjfw0Q?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" style="width: 789px; height: 598px;"></iframe>FullControl GCode Designer is applicable for a wide range of designs and applications. It’s been used to print highly controlled simple structures for material characterization as well as complex mathematical forms, in-situ process monitoring, hybrid manufacturing, and production runs &gt;1000. The benefits apply to structures designed and printed at the microscale, such as medical stents, to those at the other end of the spectrum such as large-format polymer and concrete 3D printing. Materials printed with FullControl include thermopolymers, ceramics, silicone, conductive metal inks, biological cell-laden hydrogels, fibre-reinforce polymers and many more materials. Wherever a print path is used, FullControl GCode Designer is relevant because the benefits translate across material systems and size scales. <div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjIwOTgyOTkxNjEwLVN0ZW50IGV4YW1wbGUuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Stent Example<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lWHxT3HQ4Wo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" style="width: 789px; height: 465px;"></iframe>&nbsp;</div>Major Benefits of the FullControl GCode Designer are<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="584"></table><ul><li>Quality - the ability to optimize all aspects of the printing procedure to maximize quality, reliability and speed, and overcome any challenges associated with a specific material, printing system or part design.</li><li>Design file&nbsp;efficiency - the design file for the sinusoidal shoe sole concept in the image below requires about 1KB of data, whilst also allowing full parametric adjustment of the size and shape, whereas an STL file (nonparametric) of a similar model may require 1000000 times more data.</li><li>3D print paths and previously impossible structures – the stent in the image above was printed with continuous vertical extrusion (see the video below)</li><li>Hybrid manufacturing and multi-tool processes – FullControl facilitates the use of multiple tools and auxiliary equipment. Explicit design of tool movement paths eliminates the challenges of tool-part collisions during hybrid manufacturing and allows advanced manufacturing activities such as in-situ process monitoring.</li><li>The software is entirely free and requires no installation. It’s integrated into Excel, which is used as an extremely powerful user interface (enabling Excel’s broad functions to be used in design parameters). No CAD software or software licences are required.</li></ul> <div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjIwOTgzMDUxNTQ5LVNob2Vzb2xlLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Sinusoidal Shoe Sole Example&nbsp;</div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/e68Vc69yAo8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" style="width: 789px; height: 469px;"></iframe> For a detailed demonstration of the design workflow, see the technical introduction video (20 mins)&nbsp;<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yGtyw3oLOVQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" style="width: 791px; height: 437px;"></iframe>More information and other tutorials are available at <a href="//www.fullcontrolgcode.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.fullcontrolgcode.com</a><hr>CREATE Education would like to thank Andrew Gleadall for taking the time to share his work in research focusing on biomedical polymers and additive manufacturing at Loughborough University.To learn more about additive manufacturing solutions and how CREATE Education can help and support your University research visit <a href="https://www.createeducation.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.createeeducation.com</a> or speak to our specialists at <a href="mailto:enquries@createeducation.com" rel="noopener noreferrer noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">enquries@createeducation.com</a>.

Ripple texture printed using the a simple print-path design, using a parametric FullControl design file.

Andy Gleadall, Lecturer at Loughborough University develops FullControl GCode Designer in the hope to empower people to do the impossible with scripts and slicers.

Open-Source Software for Unconstrained Design in Additive Manufacturing

This article was discussed in our <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wevolver.com/profile/the.next.byte&source=gmail&ust=1640817319915000&usg=AOvVaw2nPRdRwJrXSYYeM9RCFu5x" href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/the.next.byte" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Next Byte podcast</a>.&nbsp;<iframe height="200px" width="100%" frameborder="no" scrolling="no" seamless="" src="https://player.simplecast.com/816a5019-8dcc-44f6-87cf-e4a0b1f91ce6?dark=false" class="fr-draggable"></iframe>The full article will continue below.<hr><h2>The Elevator Pitch</h2>Neuralink wants to solve brain and spine related illnesses via the seamless integration of a coin-sized device with your brain. In summer 2020, the company held a live product demo hosted by CEO Elon Musk to display what they have been working on.<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CLUWDLKAF1M?&amp;t=581s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" style="width: 788px; height: 438px;"></iframe><h2>The Device</h2>Neural interfacing technology capable of reading and stimulating neuron activity is not necessarily new, but Neuralink's device known as the Link boasts certain features that make it stand out, such as 1024 channels (reportedly 100x more than current competitors), wireless inductive charging, a small form factor (allowing seamless integration with the skull), and utilization of readily available, mass-produced parts making the device as affordable as a new smartphone.&nbsp;<h2><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjE2ODEyNDgyNDE2LXRoZS1saW5rLnBuZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 788px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="">Image 1. The Link Device (CNET) The Procedure</h2>A robot will remove a portion of your skull the same size as the device and thread the electrodes to a segment of your brain where small electric charges will stimulate the neurons. &nbsp;Safety and accessibility are some of the primary objectives with this implant.&nbsp;Here is how the team plans on hitting those marks:- Anesthesia is not required- The entire surgery can be done under an hour- Patients can be released from hospital the same day as the procedure- A robot can do the entire procedure to guarantee accuracy- It will automatically inspect and insert electrodes where there are no veins or arteries- It is completely reversible; if you decide you don't want it, take it out without any damages<h2 class="fr-img-space-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjE2ODEyNjM5NDcwLW5ldXJhbGluay1pbnN0YWxsYXRpb24uanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 788px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Image 2. Link procedure process (CNET) The Motivation</h2>A key driving force behind this project is providing an inexpensive, safe, convenient, and reversible neural interfacing solution that could potentially eliminate neural illnesses while offering those suffering from spinal injuries the chance to regain their mobility. Still, that's not the most ambitious part of this project.Musk has repeatedly expressed his concern about the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and what it could mean for the future of humanity; therefore, he sees the Link as a viable life raft where the human mind could integrate with AI. In fact, the Neuralink team already demonstrated an elementary version of this long-term goal by having a monkey control a computer using their device to play video games.<h2>The Functionality</h2>Usually at this point everyone has the same big question: does it work? Well, the proof is in the pigs.The stars of the 2020 product demo were three little pigs that helped demonstrate the safety of the Link. The first pig had never had an implant, the second had an implant at some point but it had been removed, and the third was the one currently with an implant; the major takeaway was that you will not experience any noticeable negative changes to your behavior with or without the implant (even if you've removed it).Gertrude, the third pig, was proudly showing off her implant to the audience by having the neuron impulses connected to her snout visualized while being fed. Every time her snout touched food, the audience saw a spike.More impressively, the demo contained a video of a pig on a treadmill whose joint movements were being almost perfectly predicted using the information from the implant. This could theoretically help those with spinal injuries by relaying the movement information that they are thinking to a secondary implant located at the base of the spinal cord thereby enabling movement.&nbsp;<div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjE2ODEyODIwMzg5LVBpZyB3YWxrLnBuZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 788px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Image 3. Predicted vs. actual joint movements (CNET)&nbsp;During the Q&amp;A, Elon mentioned that it is possible to have a feature for the Link where the user will be able to upload their memories to the cloud and replay them at will.&nbsp;</div></div><h2>The When</h2>Neuralink received a breakthrough designation from the FDA in July 2020 and it looks like they are on track to start human trials by the end of 2021.&nbsp;

Neuralink is an ambitious startup backed by Elon Musk that hopes to rid the world of brain-related illnesses using a coin-sized chip

Neuralink: The Company That Wants To Put A Chip In Your Head

Israeli researchers create the first 3D printed heart. Source: Israel 21

In the near future, 3D bioprinting will allow medical professionals to engineer and 3D print patient-specific organs for organ transplants in a few hours.

3D Bioprinting Gives Researchers the Power To Create Artificial Organs

This is the first article in a series dedicated to integrated photonics. In this article, we introduce you to the technology, its history, and its materiality.&nbsp;<h2>What is integrated photonics?</h2>Integrated Photonics (IP) is the use of light for applications traditionally tackled by electronics. It can be used in a wide range of areas including telecommunications such as 5G networks, biosensors for speeding up medical diagnosis, and in automotive where it is used in LiDAR. IP consists of integrating multiple photonic functions on a Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) fabricated using automated wafer-scale generic integration technology over silicon, silica, or Indium Phosphide (InP) substrates. Integrated photonics dramatically improves the performance and reliability of these photonic functions while simultaneously reducing the size, weight, and power consumption.<h2>Electronics versus Photonics</h2>A good introduction to IP is by understanding its similarities and differences with traditional electronic circuits. Where electronics deal with the control of electrons on a chip, photonics does the same with photons. Photons are the fundamental particles of light.Conventional integrated circuits (ICs) conduct electricity by allowing the flow of electrons through the circuit. Electrons are negatively charged subatomic particles that interact with both other electrons and other particles. These interactions slow electrons down as they move through circuits, this limits the amount of information that can be transmitted; it also generates heat, which in turn causes energy and information losses.Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) use photons. Photons move at the speed of light with almost no interference from other photons. This greatly increases the bandwidth (the data transfer rate) and speed of the circuit, without big energy losses making PICs significantly more efficient than their IC counterparts.&nbsp;Integrated photonic components use "waveguides", which confine and direct the light in the desired directions (by total internal reflection), much the same way as metallic wires do for electrical signals. A PIC provides functions for information signals on optical wavelengths typically in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light#:~:text=Visible%20light%20is%20usually%20defined,%E2%80%93750%20terahertz%20(THz)." target="_blank">visible spectrum</a> or near-infrared 850 nm-1650 nm.The elements on a PIC are connected via waveguides. The chip elements can be both passive (e.g. couplers, switches, modulators, multiplexers) and active (e,g amplifiers, detectors, and lasers). These components are integrated and fabricated onto a single substrate, which creates the compact and robust photonic device.A key difference between electronic circuits and PICs is in the primary device that is used for fabrication. In an electronic integrated circuit, the main device is the transistor. But, in PIC, there is no particular main device that dominates in the fabrication. According to its application, the PIC will be designed with a range of fabrication devices. This integration presents opportunities to reduce current bulky, complex, and expensive optical systems in an integrated chip-scale way that has increased stability and robust operation, reduced size and power consumption, and cost-effective large-scale fabrication of even complex circuits.<img class="fr-fic fr-dib" src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiAid2V2b2x2ZXItcHJvamVjdC1pbWFnZXMiLCAia2V5IjogImZyb2FsYS8xNjA1MTAzODE2MTczLXRpbWVsaW5lNS0wMS5qcGciLCAiZWRpdHMiOiB7InJlc2l6ZSI6IHsid2lkdGgiOiA5NTAsICJmaXQiOiAiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 788px;"><h1>Fabrication and materials</h1>PICs are currently fabricated on both standard element semiconductors and compound semiconductors to dielectric materials and <a href="https://www.rp-photonics.com/nonlinear_crystal_materials.html" target="_blank">nonlinear crystal materials.</a> The specific application requirements drive the choice of the most suitable substrate material as each material has its own specific advantageous features and limitations. For example, lithium niobate can be used to fabricate low-loss waveguide devices or integrated flexible chalcogenide glass to make photonic crystals with mechanical flexibility.The transparency and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refractive_index" target="_blank">refractive index</a> of the materials as well as their ability to directly generate light defines the properties of the finished PIC and its uses. The material's bend loss and bend radius also impact the PIC properties. Bend loss describes propagation losses (reduction in power density) in an optical fiber (or other waveguide) caused by bending while the bend radius describes the amount a fiber can bend without breaking. The major substrates today are Indium Phosphide (InP)-based monolithic integration and Silicon Photonics but Silica (SiO2 &nbsp;and Silicon Nitride (SiN) are also growing areas.<h2>Indium Phosphide (InP)</h2>Indium phosphide (InP) is the most developed platform for PICs. InP allows for the integration of both active and passive elements such as high-performance amplifiers, lasers, modulators, and detectors in combination with interferometers within one chip in the 1.1 – 1.6 μm spectral window. InP integrated photonics are used in data communications, precision metrology (for example LIDAR in autonomous vehicles), spectrometry, and imaging. Much of the most impactful research into InP has been done in the Netherlands and several organizations and research groups continue to lead the way. The Smart Photonics foundry in Eindhoven is a leader in production services for Indium Phosphide based photonic components. The foundry and its associated services offer support for researchers and businesses to test and expand their use of InP PICs.<h2>Silicon Photonics (SiPh)</h2>Building on the success of silicon (Si) as the foundation of IC reliability, silicon photonics (SiPh) is a critical part of integrated photonics development. Silicon photonic devices can be manufactured using existing semiconductor fabrication techniques, and as silicon is already used as the substrate for most ICs, both optical and electronic components can be integrated on to the chip to create hybrid devices.Si is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transparency_(optics)" target="_blank">transparent</a> to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrared_light" target="_blank">infrared light</a> with wavelengths above about 1.1 micrometers (μm) &nbsp;- making it suitable for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiber_optic_telecommunication" target="_blank">fiber optic telecommunication</a> systems which uses 1.55 micrometer <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wavelength" target="_blank">wavelength</a>. It also has a very high <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refractive_index" target="_blank">refractive index</a>, of about 3.5, much higher than that of silicon oxide (1.5), which allows strong confinement of light in Si structures embedded in silicon oxide (waveguides). These properties make Si well suited for usage in telecom.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiAid2V2b2x2ZXItcHJvamVjdC1pbWFnZXMiLCAia2V5IjogImZyb2FsYS8xNjA1MTAzODQyNjM0LUdJSlMxMjI4LUVkaXQuanBnWzc3XS5qcGciLCAiZWRpdHMiOiB7InJlc2l6ZSI6IHsid2lkdGgiOiA5NTAsICJmaXQiOiAiY292ZXIifX19">PHIX – Gijs van Ouwerkerk, courtesy of QuiX&nbsp;<h2>Silicon Nitride (SiN)</h2>Silicon Nitride (SiN) based platforms are of recent growing interest due to their large transparency window (from visible to MIR) and ultra-low optical losses compared to other PIC platforms. Silicon nitride (SiN) excels at passive light processing in the visible, near-infrared (NIR), and IR range thanks to its very low light intensity loss in the waveguide, small bend radii, and adjustable polarization. If required by the application, active components made in another technology platform (i.e. InP) can be coupled to SiN PICs into the same package through PIC-level hybrid integration processes.The proprietary waveguide concept, called TriPleX, from the Dutch company, <a href="https://www.lionix-international.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://www.lionix-international.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lionix International</a>, has the lowest propagation losses reported for silicon nitride waveguides (0.1 dB/cm down to 0.1 dB/m). It operates in a broad wavelength band ranging from 405 nm to 2350 nm. Furthermore, they have developed a patented tapering method that converts low contrast modes for optimal fiber coupling, to high contrast modes for small bending radii.&nbsp;There are several large scale <a href="https://www.nwo.nl/en/research-and-results/research-projects/i/21/32421.html" target="_blank">research projects</a>  underway that are aiming to eliminate the number of current assembly steps and provide both lossless transitions between materials and a lower-cost manufacturable process.<h2>Lithium niobate (LiNbO3)</h2>Lithium niobate (LiNbO3) is a nonlinear crystal material suitable for devices performing nonlinear functions - that is functions that take advantage of this material property. A good example <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electro-optic_modulator" target="_blank">electro-optic modulators</a> or acousto-optic transducers. Waveguides can be fabricated on lithium niobate substrates controlled by a lithographic method. Adding or ‘doping’ rare-earth ions to Lithium niobate makes amplifiers and lasers possible. &nbsp;LiNbO3 has the property of birefringence - which means its refractive index depends on its polarization direction. This creates opportunities for polarization control, which may then be used for filtering purposes or other similar applications. However, this property also makes it more difficult to form polarization-independent devices, which are often required for optical fiber communications.<h1>Innovation through collaboration</h1><a href="https://www.photondelta.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">PhotonDelta</a>, a Dutch public-private partnership consisting of a cohesive cluster of companies and highly qualified knowledge institutes, has been formed to accelerate and reduce time to market of integrated photonics products. PhotonDelta stimulates and facilitates cooperation between stakeholders within the ecosystem providing fertile ground for developing the common business strategy, setting goals, and stimulating cooperation between partners in the Netherlands and beyond. PhotonDelta helps to amplify and scale existing companies and kickstart new ones by having access to significant funding through its industry building and growth accelerator program.<h1>Conclusion</h1>Integrated Photonics is an emerging field of technology already demonstrating massive future potential in applications across multiple fields. Much of this emerging industry developments/scale-ups and relevant R&amp;D are occurring in the Netherlands supported and driven by the leadership of PhotonDelta. PICs will continue to increase in efficiency and speed, both driving disruptive innovation, I.e. enabling (radically) new products and markers, as well as improving existing systems.In our next article, we explore the key technology areas for Integrated Photonics. We’ll guide you through how the technology is impacting automotive, biosensors, communications, quantum computing, and data storage.<div align="center"><hr align="center" size="0" width="100%"></div><h1>About the sponsor: PhotonDelta</h1>PhotonDelta is a growth accelerator for the Dutch integrated photonics industry. Its objective is to promote the adoption of integrated photonics and support companies to get prioritized access to the Dutch Integrated Photonics supply chain. Furthermore, PhotonDelta runs a new business creation program that provides companies, ranging from startups to SMEs and big organizations, with access to strategy, market, and funds.Through its wide network within the industry, PhotonDelta has gathered insights on market trends, challenges, and product roadmaps. This information is used to drive business creation, investments, and strategic technology roadmaps. Furthermore, PhotonDelta actively supports start-ups and SMEs to facilitate their involvement with the Dutch integrated photonic supply chain. This includes facilitating options for establishing a solid presence in the Netherlands.<img class="fr-fic fr-dib" src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjA1NjEzNjc0MjkwLXBob3RvbiBkZWx0YSBhcnRpY2xlIGJvdHRvbSBiYW5uZXIuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 788px;"> <div language="JavaScript"><div language="JavaScript"><div language="JavaScript"><div language="JavaScript"> </div></div></div></div>

 PHIX – Gijs van Ouwerkerk, courtesy of QuiX

Article 1 of our Integrated Photonic Series: Integrated Photonics is set to revolutionize electronic devices, circuits, and telecommunication systems

An introduction to Integrated Photonics

This article is sponsored by PhotonDelta, a growth accelerator for the integrated photonics industry. Its network consists out of chip designers, module companies, foundries, researchers, software developers as well end-customers. Through their sponsorship, PhotonDelta supports knowledge building and resource sharing on this topic.<h1>Introduction</h1>Integrated photonics is the rapidly emerging field of photonics that works to integrate multiple photonic functions into integrated circuits for communication, sensing, and, going forward, computing applications. Complex photonic circuits can now generate, process, and detect light, in analogy to how electronic integrated circuits do for electronic signals by way of connecting multiple discrete single-function components (e.g. dedicated lasers, photodetectors) and relevant optical interfaces.As many communication and sensing applications already make use of light, solid-state integration on a Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) carries the promise of significant reduction of size, weight, manufacturing costs, and power consumption while improving reliability, in comparison to the assembling and packaging of multiple discrete photonics components and bulk optics.Integrated photonics are already applied in impactful applications such as high-speed fiber-based optical communications, next-generation low-cost environmental mapping systems, and lab-on-chip biosensors for fast and accurate analysis of biological samples.For a more comprehensive introduction to Integrated Photonics read our previous <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/an-introduction-to-integrated-photonics" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">foundation article on the topic</a>. This article will focus on the areas PICs are being applied and how they are accelerating innovation in these sectors.<h1>Automotive</h1>The automotive industry is going through a rapid transformation driven by trends including electrification, autonomous vehicles &amp; driver support systems, and changes in mobility patterns and city infrastructure. These trends will influence not only the physical design and capability of commercial, public, and individual vehicles but also the broader social and economic impacts of changes to car/fleet ownership and use. The increased need for sensors in vehicles, in the electric/hybrid drivetrains as well as in advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) up to autonomous driving systems, creates new significant opportunities for the integrated photonics industry (Figure 1).<h2><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiAid2V2b2x2ZXItcHJvamVjdC1pbWFnZXMiLCAia2V5IjogImZyb2FsYS8xNjA2MjAzOTEyMTU5LUFEQVMuanBnIiwgImVkaXRzIjogeyJyZXNpemUiOiB7IndpZHRoIjogOTUwLCAiZml0IjogImNvdmVyIn19fQ==">Figure 1. An example of an ADAS system.&nbsp;Lidar</h2>The role of integrated photonics in the automotive sector has so far been modest, but its potential is extensive and touches all aspects of the vehicle and system design. One promising area is in <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/seeing-the-light-researchers-combine-technologies-for-better-light-control" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lidar</a> (Light Detection And Ranging) systems, used to assist autonomous vehicles to ‘see’. Currently, these laser-based systems are extremely expensive, often costing more than tens of thousands of dollars for a single system which limits their commercial availability. Additionally, these early systems carried with them concerns about their reliability, eye safety (due to the close to visible range wavelength regions used), and limited accuracy (given the relatively simple ranging schemes possible). Integrated photonics offers the opportunity to reduce this cost and increase system safety[1].<a href="https://news.mit.edu/2010/explained-doppler-0803#:~:text=The%20Doppler%20effect%2C%20or%20Doppler,the%20source%20approaches%20the%20observer." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Doppler effect</a> is the term given to the phenomena of the frequency of a wave changing when its source is in motion relative to an observer. Frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) Lidar works by measuring the doppler shift coherently, preventing interference from sunlight and other lidar systems. This system design offers distance resolution but comes at the cost of low acquisition speed and requires a highly coherent, as well as precisely chirped, laser source. Researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology have <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2239-3.epdf?sharing_token=8awhPK7bY8-NhCsu_UpQ4tRgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0O5vYNz8blttgNr8QtgeZcckxVk2YwyJUrdECE9S2yFSZiDVQhFdep4yLgcTlf3Xpzj-Vh0QRmBjODOGv3VU9UN1FbfxVj2R7kdYd-x8K4xH3pscwq9ozftp_lxb0GWasRGEb14fDj258OnxyFYLYzOY9V6eWP8XstlG_lFYEbROutXTZHPaKpADZtTFsUBI-A%3D&tracking_referrer=physicsworld.com" target="_blank">outlined</a> how a novel approach multiplexes a single FMCW laser using a high-quality silicon-nitride microresonator on a photonic chip.PhotonDelta is currently developing a roadmap for integrated photonics applications for the automotive industry, with a focus on the potential of Lidar, set to be published in early 2021.&nbsp;<h1>Continuum-of-Care</h1>The traditional healthcare paradigm of focusing on diagnosis and treatment of patients only after they are seriously ill has been under growing pressure to change due to increasing costs, growing populations, and rapid demographic changes (i.e. aging). There is a growing <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare-systems-and-services/our-insights/seven-healthcare-industry-trends-to-watch-in-2020" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">global trend</a> to approach healthcare more holistically, with a particular focus on prioritizing prevention before illness, ensuring that populations can stay healthy for as long as possible. Additionally, there is also an increased focus on rehabilitation, ensuring that former patients can rapidly and fully recover to good health using a broader approach to healthcare than just medication.Traditionally the diagnosis and treatment of patients occur in specialized centers (i.e. clinics and hospitals). A holistic approach to health requires decentralization, i.e. shifting diagnosis and treatment <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/honey-i-shrunk-the-detector" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">closer to the patients</a>, with the ultimate vision including remote diagnosis and treatment from people’s homes. Despite strong evidence that this approach would reduce national health costs and improve patients' prognosis while reducing hospital time and resources, there has been little movement in the national health care approach around the world. To implement a more forward-looking healthcare method, an alternative to hospital-specific medical devices must be created – and this is where Integrated Photonics can provide the answer.Light has the relevant property that a number of its parameters may change under the effect of its interaction (e.g. reflection, refraction, scattering) with bio body tissues and fluids. Light-based sensors have already been adopted into many medical devices and they will continue to be introduced at a large scale.Integrated Photonics offers the possibility to dramatically reduce the cost and size of hospital oriented medical devices and therefore kickstart a new approach to diagnosis and treatment. Several global companies are addressing this challenge by developing Integrated Photonic technology in two main areas: &nbsp;bio-sensing (see below) and Optical Coherent Tomography (OCT) &nbsp;which is a diagnostic method for eyes, skin, and neurology diseases. Within this emerging area, PhotonDelta is developing a roadmap for integrated photonics applications for the Continuum-of-Care, with a focus on bio-sensing, set to be published in early 2021.<h2>Biosensors</h2>Silicon Nitride PICS (SiN PICs) are optimal for the detection of biological molecules. They work in a very wide wavelength range from visible to near-infrared which means they avoid the water absorption window of water and allow fluorescence detection. This wavelength range makes it easy to combine them with a cheap laser source. SiN allows for a small bend radius which means the light-contacting waveguide can be rolled up to create a very long light path on the chip’s surface. This results in a long interaction time of the light with biomolecules that are in the vicinity of the surface making the biosensors based on SiN PICs highly sensitive. They also offer the ability for simultaneous multiplexed sensing of different target molecules by using the same body fluid (e.g. blood, saliva) – ie they can test for multiple items at once. &nbsp;A full view of how a photonic biosensor works can be <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/how-integrated-photonics-accelerate-the-roll-out-of-point-of-care-diagnostics-for-covid-19-cancer-and-other-diseases" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">accessed here.</a><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiAid2V2b2x2ZXItcHJvamVjdC1pbWFnZXMiLCAia2V5IjogImZyb2FsYS8xNjA2MjA1MTIyOTU0LVNvbGVyLWltZzEuanBnIiwgImVkaXRzIjogeyJyZXNpemUiOiB7IndpZHRoIjogOTUwLCAiZml0IjogImNvdmVyIn19fQ==">Nanophotonic interferometric biosensor for multiplexed analysis of protein and nucleic acid biomarkers. [Dámaso Torres/ICN2]&nbsp;PIC-based biosensors are expected to be applied in a multitude of areas, such as health-related targets (e.g. glucose monitoring in diabetes patients, early detection of the onset of cancer or infectious diseases), environmental applications (e.g. the detection of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pesticides" target="_blank">pesticides</a> and pollutants), and the food industry (e.g. determination of antibiotics or hormone<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Drug_residue&action=edit&redlink=1" target="_blank">&nbsp;residues</a> in food, early detection of infectious diseases). Dutch-based Lionix International is developing PIC-based biosensors to develop <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/how-integrated-photonics-accelerate-the-roll-out-of-point-of-care-diagnostics-for-covid-19-cancer-and-other-diseases" target="_blank">rapid testing</a> for COVID-19.<h1>Data &amp; telecommunications</h1>Research indicates that the total internet demand is growing at about 40% per year. This is driven by a huge appetite for video - Netflix now takes up to 30% of the internet’s bandwidth at peak hours. Mobile access to video is becoming more widespread as are video-centred applications such as Tik-Tok. Data consumption per device is rapidly increasing. Mobile users in North America are expected to reach 48 GigaBytes (GB) per month per smartphone by the end of 2023[2]. Integrated photonics has the potential to provide significant power, space, and cost savings, and new functionality when integrated into optical communication systems. They can also <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/well-formed-disorder-for-versatile-light-technologies" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">increase the transmission capacity</a> of existing communication systems.Dutch-based startup, <a href="https://effectphotonics.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Effect Photonics</a>, has been developing in this field for more than a decade and their first product a 10 Gb/s DWDM tuneable optical transceiver module is now ready for market (Figure 2). The module has an autotuning feature, in which the module scans the network for what channel to use. No engineer is required to program it at installation: it’s plug-and-play and hot-pluggable. The next step is higher bandwidths, a 25Gb/s is in the works with 100 and 400/600 channels in the works too.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiAid2V2b2x2ZXItcHJvamVjdC1pbWFnZXMiLCAia2V5IjogImZyb2FsYS8xNjA2MjA0Mjc3MzY4LUVmZmVjdC1QaG90b25pY3MtVUstOTQtd2ViLXJlYWR5LmpwZyIsICJlZGl0cyI6IHsicmVzaXplIjogeyJ3aWR0aCI6IDk1MCwgImZpdCI6ICJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=">Figure 2: A tuneable optical transceiver module.<h2>Advanced components for 6G networks</h2>Photonic technology will play a key role in 6G networks across different segments. In 6G transport, it has the potential to allow the transmission and routing of large amounts of data traffic at an acceptable cost. In data centers, photonic interconnect and switching will introduce a new architecture that can reduce energy consumption while providing a high level of flexibility in resource utilization. There is also promising research into photonic <a href="https://www.osapublishing.org/abstract.cfm?uri=OEDI-2018-OT3A.2" target="_blank">beam-forming networks</a> based on packaged integrated photonic circuits. Additionally, integrated photonics may be able to help achieve some functions of future radio systems that will enable further evolution towards the 6th generation of mobile networks.<h1>Quantum Computing</h1>Quantum computers based on photons instead of electrons have many advantages. A key advantage is the ability for the computer to operate at room temperature A classic quantum computer needs to be maintained at temperatures well below freezing for optimal performance making their storage and maintenance extremely costly and fragile.Earlier this year Canadian based startup, Xanadu announced the release of the world's first publicly available photonic quantum computing platform. Applicants can access 8, 12, and soon 24 qubit machines over the cloud. Despite this historic breakthrough, the potential of photonic quantum computing has not even begun to be tapped.<h2>More applications to come</h2>Other application domains and market segments for Integrated Photonics are expected to mature within 5-10 years. These include fiber-based sensor systems for real-time, and highly accurate distributed structural health monitoring, applications in energy grids and wind turbines, defense and aerospace applications as well as in monitoring systems for highly critical structures such as dikes and bridges. &nbsp;Another exciting area is NIR spectral sensing modules and components for analysis of fruit and vegetable nutrients, taste, and structure insights, which will meet increasing global concerns about food safety, storage, and traceability. Selected Integrated Photonics applications will be addressed in future articles.<h1>Conclusion</h1>Integrated Photonics is a rapidly emerging technology and industry which offers a dramatic reduction of costs and size for many communications and sensing components. As such offering huge potential to enable disruptive innovative products and solutions across industries and applications. Integrated Photonics is growing rapidly into one of the defining technologies of our time. &nbsp;<hr><h1>About the sponsor: PhotonDelta</h1><a href="https://www.photondelta.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">PhotonDelta</a>&nbsp;is a growth accelerator for the Dutch integrated photonics industry. Its objective is to promote the adoption of integrated photonics and support companies to get prioritized access to the Dutch Integrated Photonics supply chain. Furthermore, PhotonDelta runs a new business creation program that provides companies, ranging from startups to SMEs and big organizations, with access to strategy, market, and funds.Through its wide network within the industry, PhotonDelta has gathered insights on market trends, challenges, and product roadmaps. This information is used to drive business creation, investments, and strategic technology roadmaps. Furthermore, PhotonDelta actively supports start-ups and SMEs to facilitate their involvement with the Dutch integrated photonic supply chain. This includes facilitating options for establishing a solid presence in the Netherlands.<h1><img class="fr-fic fr-dib" src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiAid2V2b2x2ZXItcHJvamVjdC1pbWFnZXMiLCAia2V5IjogImZyb2FsYS8xNjA2MjAzNDcwNjM2LXBob3RvbiBkZWx0YSBhcnRpY2xlIGJvdHRvbSBiYW5uZXIuanBnIiwgImVkaXRzIjogeyJyZXNpemUiOiB7IndpZHRoIjogOTUwLCAiZml0IjogImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 788px;"></h1><h1>References</h1><ol start="1" type="1"><li><a href="https://www.photonics.com/Articles/Integrated_Photonics_Looks_to_Advance_Safety_for/a64791" target="_blank">https://www.photonics.com/Articles/Integrated_Photonics_Looks_to_Advance_Safety_for/a64791</a></li></ol><ol start="2" type="1"><li>ERICSSON Mobility Report November 2017, Mobile data traffic growth outlook. [Online] Available at: https://www.ericsson.com/en/ mobility-report/reports/november2017/mobile-data-traffic-growth-outlook</li></ol>&nbsp;

Biomedical Devices

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