Catheter treatment of heart disease

Henrik Bjursten

The development of cardiovascular care in the western world is being driven towards less invasive methods, where so-called catheterization replaces open heart surgery. Many patients with heart disease must undergo open heart surgery treatment, which is a major operation that is not without its risks. In the past 10 years or so techniques have been developed that imply, instead of an open operation, inserting a catheter in the groin and treating certain types of heart disease that previously required cardiac surgery. The purpose of the project is to continue the initial technological development of catheter treatment as well as the testing on explanted hearts.

Synchrotron micro-CT for increased understanding of pulmonary hypertension and innate heart disease

Karin Tran Lundmark

Pulmonary hypertension is a fatal condition in many cases. A prerequisite for better treatment is an increased understanding of pathophysiology and lung microanatomy. Until now, no satisfactory 3D imaging methods have been available. Further, the goal is to create automated measurement of the thickening of lung vessels. The methods used today are very time consuming and ineffective. Better 3D imaging of the heart in animal models will also help us understand why certain heart disease occurs.

Hypomineralization in the teeth of 6-year olds

Carina Wihlborg

The purpose of the study is to be able to, using an early diagnosis of hypomineralized molars provide the best preventative treatment to minimize the risk of caries or later acute symptoms as well as more complicated treatments. Through this study, dentist and dental hygienists can work more towards preventing caries in hypomineralized teeth of 6-year olds.

Active Mama – a new pelvic belt in combination with TENS for pregnant women with pelvic pain

Gerla AB / Gertrud Blomstrand

Active Mama – a new pelvic belt for pregnant women with pelvic pain, in an active pain relief concept. Some 20% of all pregnant women around the world suffer from SPD or pelvic pain. Just in Sweden, over 19,000 women are affected annually. For these women it often means incapacity to work, sick leave and consequently deterioration in quality of life. The goal is to make the belt, to be able to develop and expound the content in an app and combine with a TENS. With the combination of physiotherapy and industrial design a new pelvic belt is created for this vulnerable patient group while at the same time conventional patterns are broken from passivity and sick leave to activity and improved quality of life.

European Patent for Fixaspine

Fixaposture / Eva Ekesbo

Neck-related ill health is one of the fastest growing physical problems in society today. We use digital tools increasingly, which in many aspects is good, but unfortunately our neck is not made for the strain we expose it to. To correct posture, we need to train the muscles and their memory so that the body re-learns how it should be when posture is correct. Development is now taking place of a brand new, easy to use, product which tells the patient the correct posture so that muscle memory returns. Just 30 minutes training a day has so far shown to impact posture markedly. The purpose is to protect the product by filing for a European patent to continue developing it, conduct studies and get closer to a market launch.

Development of unique drug treatment that improves brain function after a stroke

Sinntaxis AB / Tadeusz Wieloch

Stroke is one of the major diseases affecting some 27,000 people in Sweden each year and 17 million worldwide. Of the patients who survive a stroke, approximately one third experience lifelong loss of functionality that among other things affects mobility, speech, thought, and memory. Several biological mechanisms that inhibit the plasticity and functional recovery of the injured brain have been demonstrated in experimental animal models. Recently a whole new “brake mechanism” was identified via the so-called mGluR5 receptor (metabotropic glutamate receptor 5). Treatment with a molecule that blocks mGluR5, shows significant recovery of mobility even in cases where treatment began several days after the stroke. mGluR5 blockers in combination with general exercise gives a synergistic effect that enhances the effect of the treatment. The project concerns the development of mGluR5 blockers for the treatment of stroke patients.

Improved diagnostics and follow-up of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, (COPD)

Linnea Jarenbäck

Diagnosis and follow-up of lung diseases can be improved by measuring carbon dioxide and flow under normal breathing, so-called volumetric capnography. With volumetric capnography differences can be discovered in the small respiratory tracts which are the first to be affected in cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD. Spirometry is insusceptible to this and in addition requires active involvement by the patient. It can take a while for the patient to learn the technique. This is not required for volumetric capnography. Spirometry is therefore inadequate in the evaluation of COPD and complementary methods are too complex and expensive from outside specialist caregivers. COPD is often treated wholly within primary care, without complementary examinations. To measure the average EFFi, obtained when doing volumetric capnography, seems to be a good alternative in many areas other than COPD, e.g. to follow cystic fibrosis in children who cannot manage spirometry.

Automated insulin dosage for individuals with Type 1 diabetes

Mona Landin-Olsson

People with Type 1 diabetes lack the hormone insulin. Insulin is vital to the body’s cells for the supply of energy and the progression of metabolic processes. Insulin must therefore be administered daily through multiple injections or an insulin pump. Self-regulating pumps, so-called artificial pancreas, are not available yet. In this unique collaboration between engineers in automatic control and computer-science and clinics treating patients with type 1 diabetes, the aim is to construct a link between the glucose meter and insulin pump so that it is regulated automatically. The goal of this research is to develop an automatic insulin pump. Can we prove end-user benefits for patients with type 1 diabetes by reducing the number of dangerous high or low glucose levels by providing better knowledge on how daily behaviour (physical activity, stress, sleep, pulse rate, food) can affect the individual insulin-dosage schedule?

Vevios, the alarm system of the future

Stylos Design AB / Hanne Pålsson

The elderly and the chronically ill with personal alarms with panic buttons are exposed daily to high risk in their own home environment; no one hears when they are in urgent need of help and that’s why assistance is not available. The vital communication through personal alarms with panic buttons has considerable shortcomings. The alarm is the lifeline of these vulnerable groups and should provide immediate assistance in an emergency by ensuring direct contact with the alarm central. Today’s personal alarms give a false security. In some cases, unreliable personal alarms have even lead to death. The aim of Vevios is to give every vulnerable group daily security. Society’s most vulnerable groups pay an overly high price and live in insecurity. Vevio’s mobile phone bracelet is the answer and guarantee.