Fraunhofer IGD – Parkinson’s Monitor: Better understanding of symptoms and progression of the disease
Improving patient care, making work processes more efficient and optimally networking the industry players – all of this is made possible by the increasing digitalization of the healthcare system. To this end, experts from the Fraunhofer Society are developing systems based on artificial intelligence (AI) that can be used effectively and in compliance with data protection regulations. Nine Fraunhofer units will present their research results from April 9th to 11th at the DMEA 2024 in Berlin. The researchers are available for discussions and insights into future health IT at stand D-108 in Hall 2.2.
Health research has a high priority within the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft’s research portfolio. It is geared towards the four major subject areas of drugs, diagnostics, devices and data, i.e. the 4D, and includes both prevention and disease detection, therapy and rehabilitation. As a highly transdisciplinary organization, the Fraunhofer Society offers ideal conditions for cooperation in health research. Together with partners, Fraunhofer researchers develop pioneering innovations and solutions that create significant added value for health research and, above all, for patients.
Tools and technologies support diagnostics and medical decisions
The Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Medicine MEVIS is presenting four AI-based applications at DMEA 2024: With the Data Steward Tool, clinical data is harmonized and made usable for multicenter studies. The SATORI Training Loop uses AI to reduce the time required to develop algorithms for segmenting medical image data. MINIMAKI supports surgical procedures for heart valve diseases with mixed reality projections. The MammoJourney app accompanies breast cancer patients with understandable information, organizational help and an AI chat.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, Heinrich Hertz Institute, HHI presents groundbreaking advances in Light Fidelity (LiFi) technology designed for medical use. LiFi enables mobile communication through optical wireless transmission using light as a medium. Compared to radio, light is safer from unauthorized access and robust against interference from radio waves. LiFi serves as a valuable complement to wireless communications, especially in high-density environments that require greater capacity. LiFi enables new use cases, especially in industry. In addition, LiFi meets strict safety standards and electromagnetic compatibility criteria. Fraunhofer HHI also works with industrial and academic partners on various research projects with a focus on medical applications such as LINCNET, 5G-COMPASS and OWIMED.
The Fraunhofer Center for Digital Diagnostics ZDD presents innovative concepts for healthcare in rural regions. The projects cover the entire digital diagnostic value chain from sampling and measurement to secure data management and data interpretation. An intelligent wound dressing is being developed for poorly healing wounds, which enables personalized wound management through decentralized monitoring. In addition, a fully automated health station is being developed that can bring professional diagnostics to sparsely populated regions. In addition, digital ecosystems in patient care are being analyzed and the development of next-generation virus tests is being promoted.
Cohort analysis forms the basis of personalized medicine: An interactive web application from which medical staff and patients benefit is the Parkinson’s monitor from the Fraunhofer Institute for Graphical Data Processing IGD, which will be presented at the DMEA. The tool makes it easier to search for relevant similarities in the course of the disease and thus helps to discover new connections. By better understanding the course of the disease, the tool enables individual risk assessment.
AI models and planning algorithms optimize processes and analysis
The Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems IAIS is presenting groundbreaking solutions in the field of clinical artificial intelligence for pharmacology and hospitals at DMEA 2024, including large language models (LLMs) and clinical support tools. On site, the researchers will use innovative demonstrators to demonstrate how text generation, information extraction and the analysis of patient data from clinical studies work with AI. The use of these technologies promises more efficient and precise medical care.
Surgery planning in hospitals is complex because many wheels interlock and it has to be constantly adjusted due to incoming emergencies, delays or short-term cancellations. The SCEDAS software from the Fraunhofer Center for Maritime Logistics and Services CML calculates an optimal, current planning proposal at the push of a button. This means work is made easier for the operation coordination and the entire medical staff. In addition, surgical resources can be used even more efficiently. Fraunhofer CML is presenting the software at DMEA.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Cognitive Systems IKS focuses on the use of trustworthy AI in healthcare under the motto: Trustworthy Digital Health. One use case is the use of explainable AI in medical diagnostics, for example in the classification of vertebral fractures and blood cell classification. Another example: data-efficient AI that supports doctors in evaluating medical images for early cancer detection. And finally, Fraunhofer IKS demonstrates how AI based on quantum computing can improve medical diagnoses.
Applications for patients improve care and successful telemedicine
Detect thrombosis earlier and relieve the burden on nursing staff: Fraunhofer IGD’s veinXam solution makes this possible. By using sensors to continuously measure blood flow in the deep veins of the legs, the technology reduces the risk of thrombosis. If veinXam detects pathological changes, it notifies the user using an app or, in the case of inpatient stays, the nursing staff. The system is integrated into a compression stocking for everyday use.
Using Guardio – also a solution from Fraunhofer IGD – ECG measurements can be taken with a smartphone. Heart movements are recorded completely without electrodes and evaluated with the help of artificial intelligence. Another telemedicine solution from the institute is the CareCam – the personal health assistant at work. It continuously records the users’ vital data without any cabling and provides individual recommendations to improve well-being.
IT structures and software components support e-health providers
The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology FIT presents development tools with which digital health solutions can be implemented more quickly. The toolbox brings together applications and techniques from various research projects. This makes health data spaces (medical data spaces) possible that connect clinics, practices and care across sectors. Examples include the FrühstArt app for parents of obese children and the patient chatbot of the AI-NET-PROTECT project.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Software and Systems Engineering ISST researches and develops software technologies for digital and data-driven healthcare. The researchers create concepts, architectures, prototypes and components for transparent, interoperable, federated and sovereign health data spaces. At the DMEA, the institute will present its data room projects on infrastructure, data usage and applications.
Further information about the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft’s exhibits at the DMEA can be found here:
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Fraunhofer on DMEA
April 9th to 11th, 2024
Fraunhofer joint stand: Hall 2.2, Stand D-108
The Fraunhofer Society, based in Germany, is the world‘s leading organization for application-oriented research. With its focus on future-relevant key technologies and on the exploitation of the results in business and industry, it plays a central role in the innovation process. As a guide and source of inspiration for innovative developments and scientific excellence, it helps shape our society and our future. The organization, founded in 1949, currently operates 76 institutes and research facilities in Germany. Around 30,800 employees, mostly with science or engineering training, develop the annual research volume of around €3.0 billion. Of this, €2.6 billion falls on contract research.
Contact
Fraunhofer Institute for Graphical Data Processing IGD
Daniela Welling
Fraunhoferstraße 5
64283 Darmstadt
+49 6151 155-146