Mini Symposia

Plenary lectures and General Sessions will be complemented by Mini Symposia organized by recognised experts in targeted research areas.


Persons willing to organize an Invited Session on a specific topic are kindly requested to send their proposal to the conference secretariat. 

 

 

MS 01: Biomechanics and Clinical Demand - organized by Udo Nackenhorst, Henning Windhagen, Gerhard A. Holzapfel

MS 01: Biomechanics and Clinical Demand - organized by Udo Nackenhorst, Henning Windhagen, Gerhard A. Holzapfel

The minisymposium addresses latest research activities in theoretical, computational and experimental biomechanics with a focus towards actual questions and needs in clinical practice. Thus, the minisymposium provides an open space for discussions on clinical demands, which are addressed to technical disciplines as well as the latest solution techniques in biomechanics and related fields.

 

Topics of Interest: 

The minisymposium  is open for contributions, which address the following items for cells, living tissues, organs and organisms:

  • Theoretical, computational and experimental approaches with clinical applications for hard and soft tissues including fluid structure interaction (best practice examples)
  • Open questions in the clinical fields and success stories in collaboration between the disciplines
  • Novel techniques that open new fields to foster computational biomechanics into clinical applications, e.g. model order reduction, artificial intelligence, data integration etc.

 

Keynote Speakers: 

  • Oliver Röhrle, Stuttgart University, Continuum-mechanical Modelling of the Musculoskeletal System
  • Nele Famaey, KU Leuven, in vivo, in vitro and in silico modeling of the cardiovascular remodeling phenomena in the Ross procedure

MS 02: Preclinical and clinical radiotracer imaging of the hearing system - organized by Georg Berding, Martin Mamach

MS 02: Preclinical and clinical radiotracer imaging of the hearing system - organized by Georg Berding, Martin Mamach

The pathophysiologic basis of the partly limited restoration of the hearing system after auditory implantation is not sufficiently understood. The suggested mini-symposium focusses on the application of radiotracer imaging as a minimally invasive in vivo approach to gain functional or molecular information for improving the understanding and ultimately the results after implantation. The mini-symposium will give an overview on the subject in two respects: 1. Methods 2. Applications. The following questions will be addressed.

With regard to methods radiopharmaceuticals are a key issue. Which radiotracers are already available to measure processes relevant for hearing (e.g. neuronal activity, transmission or inflammation)? How can effective radiotracer production for use in patients be achieved? In which way are new radiotracers validated? A further aspect is imaging itself. What are the limits of imaging with respect to spatial resolution and contrast recovery – using dedicated scanners for animals or humans?  What can be achieved in data analysis e.g. with regard to automated anatomical labeling, statistical parametric mapping and bio-kinetic modelling? 

Concerning applications, it will be elaborated first, which animal models are available to study the hearing system and its disorders, e.g. age related hearing loss. Which knowledge acquisition can be obtained based on radiotracer imaging in these animal models? Secondly, the application in humans for precision diagnostics will be elaborated, in particular for the assessment of prognosis and optimization of rehabilitation in connection with auditory implantation. 

 

Topics of interest:

  • Radiopharmaceuticals for imaging the hearing system (Tobias Ross)
  • Quantitative radiotracer studies of the hearing system (Martin Mamach)
  • Knowledge gain from preclinical radiotracer studies in hearing research (Mariella Kessler)
  • Insights from radiotracer studies in auditory implantation (Georg Berding)

 

Keynote speaker:

  • Prof. Tobias Ross, Head of Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry in the Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hannover Medical School

MS 03: Robotics in Technical Orthopaedics - organized by Henning Windhagen, Eike Jakubowitz, Christof Hurschler

MS 03: Robotics in Technical Orthopaedics - organized by Henning Windhagen, Eike Jakubowitz, Christof Hurschler

The minisymposium addresses latest research activities in theoretical, computational and experimental development  as much  as clinical presentation of exoskeletal prostheses with a special focus on artificial robotic hands. 

The minisymposium provides an open space for discussions on theoretical, conceptual and clinical demands which are addressed to technical disciplines as well as latest clinical solution techniques in hand development, its kinematics and controls.

 

Topics of interest:

  • Basic concepts, history and current best practice examples in development of the robotic artificial hand for amputees.
  • Kinematic assessment, testing and motion control in expoprostheses, specifically for the hand.
  • Expansion of singular limb exoprostheses development to the technology of exoskeletons

 

Keynote speaker:

  • Prof. Antonio Bicchi, Pisa, Robotics and Soft Synergies

MS 04: Biodegradable Materials: From Alloy Design to In Vivo Testing - organized by Hans Jürgen Maier, Andrea Meyer-Lindenberg

MS 04: Biodegradable Materials: From Alloy Design to In Vivo Testing - organized by Hans Jürgen Maier, Andrea Meyer-Lindenberg

There is an increasing trend to used absorbable metallic materials in medical applications, as these provide for higher strength than their polymer-based counterparts do. Following extensive basic research, some absorbable alloys are now on the verge to widespread commercial use as well.  Still there are substantial challenges in the field.  The key issues include tailoring both the mechanical properties and the degradation behaviour to the specific location within the body. Ideally, a biocompatible alloy should fully disintegrate after a given time period without no side effects. Unfortunately, degradation rates determined in in vitro tests typically cannot be used to accurately predict the in vivo behaviour of an actual implant. Clearly, the process of selection of an alloy and design of an implant to prediction of the in-service behaviour and the validation of the properties requires an interdisciplinary approach. The mini-symposium will provide a setting for all those interested in basic aspects and applications of biodegradable materials to discuss. Especially young scientists are encouraged to contribute to the mini-symposium.

 

Topics of interest:

  • Alloy development
  • Processing
  • Degradation behaviour
  • Modelling
  • In vitro and In vivo testing
  • Applications

 

Keynote Speaker:

  • Prof. Dr. Regine Willumeit-Römer, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht 

MS 05: 3D Bioprinting: State of art and new emerging trends - organized by Boris Chichkov, Vladimir Mironov

MS 05: 3D Bioprinting: State of art and new emerging trends - organized by Boris Chichkov, Vladimir Mironov

Rapidly evolving field of 3D bioprinting is a biomedical version of layer by layer additive manufacturing technology. 3D bioprinting could be defined as a robotic additive biofabrication of 3D tissue and organ constructs using biomaterials and living cells according to digital models. The 3D bioprinting technology promises to solve urgent clinical problems of shortage of human tissues and organs for transplantation. It will help to develop new authentic histo- and organotypical models of human diseases and in vitro models for drug discovery and toxicology. 

 

There are three main emerging 3D bioprinting technologies: i) inkjet bioprinting, ii) extrusion-based bioprinting, and iii) laser-based bioprinting. At this symposium, the state of art of these 3D bioprinting technologies will be presented and discussed by leading experts. Special attention will be given to the development of bioincs for 3D bioprinting - one of the hottest research topics in 3D bioprinting. Finally, new research  trends in 3D bioprinting, such as hybrid bioprinting, in situ bioprinting, etc. will be discussed. 

 

The symposium will provide comprehensive analysis of 3D bioprinting technologies by outlining new directions in this field including clinical translation and  commercialisation aspects.

MS 06: Drugs and Implants - Masterplan SMART BIOTECS special session

MS 06: Drugs and Implants - Masterplan SMART BIOTECS special session

In this symposium, researchers from SMART BIOTECS will showcase their work in the area of bioactive substances and intelligent implant design. SMART BIOTECS is a collaborative research consortium between the Leibniz University of Hannover and the Technical University of Braunschweig. Researchers from both universities have joined forces in a strategic alliance which combines the unique but complementary expertise of both locations. Focus of their joint activities includes the research of next-generation drugs for infectious and degenerative diseases, as well as the development of novel implant technologies with integrated sensors and improved biofunctionality. The mini-symposium gives a unique perspective into the current biomedical research landscape of two of Lower Saxony’s leading technical universities

MS 07: Auditory Implants - organized by Thomas Lenarz

MS 07: Auditory Implants - organized by Thomas Lenarz

Auditory Implants have undergone rapid development over the last three decades. Today they offer a wide spectrum for auditory rehabilitation for all types and grades of hearing loss. Future developments are directing towards advanced implants with added biological components such as drugs, cells and nano particles. The aim at restoring and modulating the cochlear environment is for hearing preservation and regeneration.  Adding sensors and recording electrodes along the auditory pathway, these implants will become closed loop systems for automated adaptation to the special acoustic environment will be able to sense early biological changes at the tissue interface and by using artificial intelligence will self-optimize the auditory performance in recipients. 

The symposium will provide a comprehensive overview on state of the art and recent developments. 

MS 08: Mechanics of Hearing - organized by Hannes Maier

MS 08: Mechanics of Hearing - organized by Hannes Maier

Hearing is one of the most important senses, especially in humans as we rely on of speech and communication in daily life. Even today the underlying acoustical-mechanical properties of the middle and inner ear as well as sound transmission by the skull in bone conducted hearing are only partially understood. Since the mid-eighties new hearing devices have been developed to treat pathologies for which conventional therapies fail. Multiple implantable devices have been introduced for patients with conductive and mixed hearing loss, such as cochlea implants (CI), implantable bone conduction devices (BCD), active middle ear implants (AMEI) and direct acoustic cochlea stimulators (DACI) since then.

 

Experiments and computational model research helps to better understand the physiology and stimulation principles of hearing to optimize treatments and devices, to extend applications and to develop new devices to compensate for hearing deficits more optimally than today. Applications of models extend along the entire peripheral sound transmission and processing chain and include sound transmission by bone conduction, tympanic membrane and acoustic input impedance, models of the middle ear sound transmission, mechanics of the inner ear and active amplification by outer hair cells as well as simulating the electrical environment of the inner ear for cochlea implants.

 

Keynote speaker:

  • Prof. Rong Z. Gan, University of Oklahoma, Computational Modeling and Biomechanical Measurement of Blast Wave Transmission through the Ear

MS 09: Clinical relevance and simulation of biological and mechanical influencing factors on dental and biomedical implants - organized by Andreas Greuling, Meike Stiesch

MS 09: Clinical relevance and simulation of biological and mechanical influencing factors on dental and biomedical implants - organized by Andreas Greuling, Meike Stiesch

In modern medicine implant treatment, e.g. dental implants or orthopedic implants are frequently used in multifarious indications. Many patients suffer from tooth decay or even tooth loss which requires dental treatment.

 

Several factors can influence the long term success of medical and dental implants: bone quantity and quality, biofilm formation, mechanical loading, type of implant system, prosthetic construction tissue-integration and anchorage. For sustainable restorations, one should keep these factors in mind, which can have a significant impact on biomechanical properties and long term prognosis of implants.

 

In this context in silico studies can speed up research and development for medical implants and/or restorative solutions, and can also address topics which are too complex to be studied solely by means of physical experiments. This mini-symposium aims to bring together scientists from various communities in order to develop new interdisciplinary strategies for the improvement in the long term success of medical implants and restorations.

 

Topics of Interest: 

The topics to be discussed in the mini-symposium include:

  • Ceramic materials and their medical use
  • FE-simulation of different ceramic materials depending on their indication
  • Dental implants – case reports, indications and limitations
  • FE-simulation of loaded dental implants correlated to the design of the suprastructure
  • In vitro systems of oral biofilms
  • Numerical simulations of biofilm development

 

Keywords: In silico studies, Biofilms, Ceramics, Implants, Dentistry

MS 10: Computational Vascular Biomechanics - organized by T. Christian Gasser, Stephane Avril

MS 10: Computational Vascular Biomechanics - organized by T. Christian Gasser, Stephane Avril

Simulations of the vascular mechanical system and its interaction with the biological processes can advance the understanding of physiological and pathological mechanisms and may open a door to the development of new treatment options and medical devices. Mechanical concepts are challenged by quite a few aspects when applied to problems that incorporate living tissue material and in vivo patient specific geometries: There usually exist a large uncertainty and variation in material properties, difficulties in length-scale separation, a lack of access to samples for experimental testing, a clear definition of a reference frame, difficulties in geometry capturing and the mechano-biochemical interplay, just to name a few. Towards building trust and applicability of computational models to real world clinical questions and problems, such challenges need to be addressed.

 

Topics of Interest: 

Therefore, this minisymposium focuses on aspects, such as:

  • Uncertainty quantification and large patient cohorts
  • Inverse methods and parameter identification
  • Reduced order models of clinical relevance
  • Patient-specific constitutive modeling
  • Multifield methods in a patient-specific context
  • Multiscale methods applied to real world problems
  • Integrated imaging & computation approaches
  • Development and validation of boundary conditions
  • Real-time computational mechanics.

 

Keynote Speaker: 

  • Karol Miller, University of Western Australia, Towards simple, compatible with clinical workflows patient-specific computational vascular biomechanics

MS 11: Neural Interfaces - organized by Waldo Nogueira, Andreas Büchner

MS 11: Neural Interfaces - organized by Waldo Nogueira, Andreas Büchner

Recent advances in engineering, computing and neuroscience are contributing to novel approaches to recover human senses and to treat neurological and mental disorders as well as understanding various function of the brain. These new approaches are based on the ability to stimulate and record neural activity with increased accuracy.
 
New technologies including stimulation and recording devices as well as computational models permit the expansion and understanding of neural interfaces, devices that interact with the nervous system to restore or enable sensory and motor function. Examples of successful neural interfaces include cochlear implants for hearing impaired people, retinal implants for the blind, and devices for deep brain stimulation (DBS) for individuals with Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor and other motor symptoms.
 
This session will include review studies and novel contributions in the field of retinal, cochlear and central auditory implants, deep brain stimulation implants as well as cortical stimulation and recording devices. Bringing researchers together from different disciplines working in different applications will bring synergistic effects and offer the opportunity to learn from each other’s field.
 
Computational models may include:

  • Electrical and mechanical stimulation through neuroprosthetics
  • Neural activity recording and modeling
  • Higher level perceptual models of hearing, vision and motor function
  • Personalization of neural prosthetics
  • Optimization of neural prosthetics based on computation models