TechMed Centre Experience Pre-program Double Oration M. Rovers & J. Tamsma

Breastfeeding offers unique benefits for mother and infant, but various problems can occur. For example, many mothers are unsure if their milk production is sufficient. How can we know what and how much a baby drinks from the breast? And why do breastfeeding challenges arise? These are questions that Prof. dr. Ir. Nienke Bosschaart addresses with her team ‘Human Milk and Lactation’ at the University of Twente (TechMed Centre). We demonstrate different optical techniques that are used to study human milk and the lactating breast.

At the BMS Lab, we are dedicated to creating software that helps researchers & practitioners engage with people and understand their behavior in real-world settings.

• TIIM is our platform for interactive, participant-centered research. It enables direct communication with participants, the sending of reminders, delivery of content or stimuli, and designing adaptable studies and interventions tailored to individual needs. Whether in clinical, behavioral, or social science context, TIIM supports meaningful, long-term engagement between researchers and participants. The platform operates on secure infrastructure, compliant under NEN and ISO standards (7510/7512/7513 and ISO/IEC27001).

ScriBe is our upcoming platform for behavior analysis through multimedia. Designed for researchers working with audio and video, ScriBe allows you to transcribe, diarise, and visualise interactions, providing deeper insight into social behavior.

Health Innovation Netherlands (HI-NL) is based on the proven fact that early dialogue between innovators and relevant stakeholders improves the value and effectiveness of health innovations. By bringing all relevant innovators and stakeholders together in one place through the HI-NL Round Table service, comprehensive well-structured guidance can be provided to accelerate the introduction of innovations that directly meet end-user needs.

River BioMedics is a Dutch start-up biotech company that spun off from the University of Twente in 2020. We combine our cardiac biology knowhow with our expertise in bio-engineering and human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) to develop 3D cardiac in vitro models for the discovery and development of novel cardiac drugs.

Demcon life science & health provides contract engineering and manufacturing services in medical technology, biotechnology, and in-vitro diagnostics. Our portfolio encompasses diagnostic and monitoring systems, advanced treatment equipment, and critical care systems, covering the entire development process from concept to production. Catering to both startups and OEMs, we focus on accelerating the time-to-market for high-quality, patient-centered innovations. With extensive experience and a proven project portfolio, we efficiently integrate existing knowledge with new insights, streamlining development without compromising quality. All solutions adhere to rigorous standards, including ISO 9001, ISO 13485, CE-MDR, CE-IVDR, FDA, and GMP.

Principles of Technical Medicine is a movement working to better visualise Technical Medicine, how it came into being, and, most importantly, its place in and contribution to the medical world. It adds to the established knowledge and expertise already present in medicine. We want to describe the principles of the discipline and practices now emerging in several Dutch clinical settings.

With an extensive group of contributors, we are in a creative process. The first step is a website, which we will present on May 22. Visit us and stay informed about the latest updates!

Cardiovascular modelling is increasingly recognized as a valuable tool for the development and testing of medical devices. Cardiovascular simulators can function as "virtual patients," enabling the evaluation of safety and efficacy for new therapies while offering a promising alternative to animal testing and clinical trials.

In this presentation, we showcase the simulators developed by our group and demonstrate their application in evaluating a range of medical devices[1], [2], [3]. Our simulation techniques span a broad spectrum—from purely in silico to in vitro approaches, and from 0D to 1D to 3D models[4]. These techniques are combined ad hoc depending on the specific therapy under investigation. Higher-order models are employed for anatomical regions directly impacted by the device, while lower-order models represent the rest of the cardiopulmonary system. This modular strategy reduces computational demands, making it feasible to generate numerous test scenarios or patient profiles—comparable in scale to large clinical trials.

A clear example of this approach is the testing of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO), a therapy implanted between the vena cava to the arterial system. Since key questions regarding the safety and efficacy of the therapy relate to the arterial region, we developed a setup using a 3D aortic phantom, in which the VA-ECMO is cannulated in a clinically realistic manner. The phantom is physiologically actuated with realistic pressure and flow profiles, generated in real time by an in silico patient model that interacts dynamically with the phantom.

This hybrid in silico–in vitro approach, combining computational simulation with a 3D physical phantom, provides a high-fidelity test bench. It enables the assessment of VA-ECMO effects both at the systemic level—via the in silico patient simulator—and locally—within the aortic phantom. Building on this example, we are developing additional test benches targeting other anatomical sites, to support the evaluation of different cardiac and vascular medical devices.

The Biomedical Device Design and Production lab (BDDP) focuses on generating knowledge and expertise to cover the entire trajectory from a clinical need to clinical evaluation of a biomedical device, including innovative designs, manufacturing, verification of Medical Device Regulation demands and circularity. Within this exhibition we display the wide variety of problems that we work on using various methodologies. E.g. musculoskeletal modelling of the aging knee joint, derivation of design requirements for ALS patients, gaining fundamental knowledge on bone-sawing interaction and various medical devices to assist patients in activities of daily living.

Accurate blood flow visualization is critical for the diagnosis and treatment of vascular diseases. However, conventional ultrasound imaging often struggles to capture complex flow patterns within blood vessels due to the low acoustic reflectivity of blood, particularly in regions of severe stenosis. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) can overcome these limitations by using microbubble-based contrast agents to enhance the ultrasound signal.

To demonstrate this capability, a 3D-printed stenosed artery model was integrated into a flow setup. The setup includes a pump to generate a pulsatile water flow and an inlet installed before the model to administer the ultrasound contrast agent. Conventional B-mode ultrasound and CEUS imaging were performed to visualize the flow in the stenosis, using a 9L4 probe connected to the Acuson S2000 ultrasound system (Siemens, Healthineers, Erlangen, Germany).

This demonstration highlights the capabilities of contrast-enhanced ultrasound, particularly for identifying complex flow patterns that are otherwise challenging to visualize with conventional ultrasound.

Eating is more than the consumption of food. Eating is often a social activity. We sit together with friends, family, colleagues and fellow students, to connect, share and celebrate aspects of life. Sticking to a personal diet plan can be challenging in these situations. The social uncomfortableness that is associated with having a different diet than the rest of the group greatly contributes to this. Additionally, it is well known that we unconsciously influence each other while we eat. Not just in the type of food that we choose, but also the quantity of the food that we consume, and even the speed with which we consume the food is affected by our eating partners.

The interactive dining table is created to open up the concept of healthy eating in a social context: where individual table members feel supported in their individual diet plans, yet still experience a positive group setting. The table is embedded with 199 load cells and 8358 LEDs, located below the tabletop surface. The table can use artificial intelligence to detect weight shifts over the course of a meal, identify individual bite sizes and classify interactions between table members and food items. Simultaneously, the LEDs can be used to provide real-time feedback about eating behavior, give perspective regarding food choices, or alter the ambience of the dining experience as a whole. Light interactions can change over time and between settings, depending on the composition of the table members or the type of meal that is consumed.

This demo will showcase groundbreaking wireless technologies that could revolutionize the future of minimally invasive medical procedures. Visitors will see how microrobots can navigate wirelessly through the brain's blood vessels for precise surgical interventions; how a video capsule endoscope can be steered inside the body using an external magnetic field for targeted imaging; and how wireless magnetic screws can be actuated through soft tissue and viscoelastic materials, offering new possibilities for surgery without traditional incisions.

You have a brilliant idea for a Health Technology Innovation. How can you progress this idea to life? Who can help you to identify opportunities and risks with regards to (clinical) practice, quality and regulatory, (clinical) evidence strategy, business development, and implementation? And how can you prioritize and finance strategic innovation and implementation activities? Together with partners in our ecosystem, the University of Twente is establishing Local and Regional Roundtables to support researchers and innovators with advice and services to take the next steps towards societal impact and sustainable health(care) for all. Will you help us to initiate a culture shift, in which an early, iterative and interdisciplinary approach towards Health Technology Innovation becomes fun and feasible? Today we play the HealthTech Innovation Game!