PREMO to cooperate with the Hamburg University of Technology

The main objective of the project is to monitor the healing process of fractures treated by osteosynthesis. For this purpose, the level of load acting on the implants is measured using a strain gauge. This provides the physician with a quantitative measure of the stiffness at the fracture site and makes prediction of fracture healing as well as rehabilitation control possible. Advantages of the new technique compared to well-established examination methods like X-ray and CT are high sensitivity and no radiation exposure.

The strain information from the gauge is translated to a digital signal using a microcontroller in a very small circuit. This signal is transferred out of the body using radio frequency communication (RFID). The miniaturized transponder coil on the circuit is provided by PREMO. This miniature glass-tube coil allows for easy integration into the small circuit. In this way, the system is fitted into the implant.