Finished projects
The core technology of so-called artificial lungs are membranes that allow diffusive gas exchange between blood and gas phase similar to the native human lung. In the research project
“3D-Lung”,
we evaluate the next generation of oxygenator membranes based on 3D-printing technology with the potential for an implantable artificial lung by overcoming the current limitations of stand-of-the-art membranes.
Funded by the DFG. This project is part of the SPP 2014: Towards an Implantable Lung.
Aim of the SPP is to enable research to support the development of long-term implantable lung assist systems.
Lung support systems replace the lung function of patients with critical lung disease. Especially for these highly fragile patients the procedure poses a considerable risk. The aim of the project “ConnexAL” is the development and evaluation of a less invasive technique, which reduces the risk and increases the mobility for the patient. An early mobilization after surgery supports the healing process and improves the quality of life.
Funded by the DFG. This project is part of the SPP 2014: Towards an Implantable Lung.
Aim of the SPP is to enable research to support the development of long-term implantable lung assist systems.
The cannulation of Extracorporeal Lung Assist (ECLA) systems is still a source of undesired complications . The project
“ConnLA”
aims for an alternative to conventionally used cannula such as hemodynamically optimized grafts directly connected to blood vessels.
Funded by the DFG. This project is part of the SPP 2014: Towards an Implantable Lung.
Aim of the SPP is to enable research to support the development of long-term implantable lung assist systems.
To close this temporal gap between the diagnosis of a carbon monoxide intoxication and the HBO therapy, the project ECCOR will develope a system for the elimination of carbon monoxide.
Funded by European Union and North Rhine-Westphalia .
The project EduDerm develops and evaluates a a realistic skin, vascular and tissue model from artificial materials for the training of basic surgical skills.
Funded by the Program „Innovative Lehrprojekte“ of the Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen.
When testing blood conducting systems regarding blood damage, flow measurements and in-vitro-blood-tests play a central role. However, a series of optical measuring methods cannot be performed with blood due to the lack of transparency. This issue is resoved by using Ghost Cells.
Funded by the DFG.
Atrial fibrillation leads to a five-fold increase in the stroke risk. If treatment of the atrial fibrillation fails and long-term anti-coagulation carries to much risk in a patient, the stroke risks can be reduced by implanting an occluder in the left atrial appendage (LAA). In the PLAAO project, we design a personalized LAA occluder that will improve the closure of the LAA and reduce the risk to the patient.
Funded by the BMBF.
Failing-Fontan is a present problem, which confronts cardiologists in the whole world. The Fontan-procedure enables children to survive with only one functioning ventricle. The treatment of this innate heart defect is individual for each patient and requires in some cases a cardiac support system.
Funded by the BMBF.
OxySim (finished 08/2019)
Computational Fluid Dynamics, CFD, supports the development process of oxygenators significantly. Aim of the project OxySim is to develop the numerical model further, as well as to validate it in vitro.
HOC Surf (finished 07/2019)
People who live with an implanted ventricular assist device have to fuly rely on this. The fact that todays ventricular assist devices come with a life-threatening risk of thrombosis is even more severe for those being affected. Therefore, CVE and its cooperation partners investigate in the project HOC Surf intensively the applicability of innovative coating processes. It is our goal to enable patients to live their lifes without any risk of thrombosis through a gentle contact between blood and device.
ProtEmbo (finished 10/2018)
The acute aortic valve stenosis is one of the most commonly observed heart valve diseases. Affected patients with a high operation risk are treated with transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), a minimally invasive procedure. This procedure comes with several risks. The development of a novel embolic protection device, the ProtEmbo device, is expected to minimize neurological complications during TAVI.
For over 20 years catheter based implantations of artificial heart valves provide an alternative to open heart surgery. The success of a catheter-based implantation depends, inter alia, on the knowledge of the measurement and form of the pathological heart valve. The implantation of an inaccurately sized heart valve can lead to severe complications. As conventional imaging-techniques show divergent measurements, a concept for a new measurement device is developed in this project.
Funded by the START-Program of the Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen.
Risk assessment of the thrombogenicity of biological prostheses in vitro.The aim of this project is the qualitative assessment of the risk for valve thrombosis in biological prostheses within an in vitro study. In addition, risk factors for thrombus formation are derived from the site of origin, size and number of thrombi.
Funded by the Hirsch Stiftung.
Scarabeusheart (finished 03/2018)
The Scarabaeus heart project is researching a new generation of blood pumps. For this purpose, the rotary piston principle is used, which has become known to the public through the Wankel engine. The approach combines the advantages of different blood pumps and is intended to avoid medical complications caused by previously used designs. Different applications are possible, e.g. as a fully implantable cardiac support system or as a complete heart replacement.
The mobilization of patients with extracorporeal lung support is the next logical development step in the field of artificial lung research. The “MoBox” project aims to close a research gap in the miniaturization of portable lung systems and is dedicated to the development of an efficiently dimensioned oxygen supply for ambulatory lung support.
Funded by the
START-Program of the Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen.
Improving the hemocompatibility of polyurethane by means of surface structuring.
Funded by the START-Program of the Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen.
“OxyBench” is an interdisciplinary research project aiming for a simulation and test platform for novel membrane oxygenators and technologies in artificial lungs for the treatment of chronic lung disease. The test methods within this project are developed to allow reproducible, preclinical long-term tests of artificial lungs.
Funded by the
START-Program of the Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen.
Prosthetic heart valves are the sole effective treatment in patients with valvular heart disease. The project Polyvalve develops a Polymeric Prosthetic Heart Valve for Life.
Funded by the INTERREG Program V-A Euregio Maas-Rheine of the European Union.
EndOxy (finished 12/2017)
Chronic airway disease is the third most frequent cause of mortality. However, the therapy of chronic lung disease is limited to a duration of weeks due to insufficient biocompatibility of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) devices. The underlying idea in the research project “EndOxy” is to overcome this limitation by benefitting from the physiological antithrombotic properties of an endothelial lining similar to the native blood vessels. A biohybrid solution with endothelial layer covering the blood contacting surfaces as a biomimicking interface between technical promises an increase of hemocompatibility and, thus, allows prolonged ECMO therapy for patients with chronic lung disease.
The PulmoStent is a multi-layer biohybrid Stent for the treatment of airway stenoses.
Funded by the BMBF.
Aim of the project ReinHeart is the development of a fully implantable total artificial heart that functions without any connection through the skin.
Funded by the European Union and Land Nordrhein-Westfalen .
Isolated Heart (finished 06/2016)
The Isolated Heart is a standardized test procedure for percutaneous aortic valve prostheses.
Potential of von Willebrand Factor for early detection and differentiation of shear related blood damage by blood pumps