Device sought for improved diagnostics of climbing injuries

Individuals or teams from electrical and medical engineering, design, mechanical engineering and mechatronics at universities, technical colleges and universities of applied sciences as well as technical schools and technical colleges are eligible.

Simulation of the climbing situation on the finger

The medical diagnostics topic is at the forefront of Innovace 2024 because ligament and tendon injuries can occur to hands and fingers, especially during sport climbing. The ring ligaments, which guide the flexor tendons and attach them flexibly to the bone structure of the fingers, are most frequently affected. If overloaded, the ring ligaments can become strained or even tear. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is often used for diagnostic purposes. The problem here is that an injury to the ring ligaments is best visualized when the fingers are under strain, but the tools for this have been lacking until now. Visualization and diagnostics could be improved if the same load could be applied to the fingers in the MRI as was applied when the injury occurred. For climbers, this usually corresponds to the load of their own body weight hanging from a climbing hold, for example.

Customizable device that applies constant forces to the fingers

ACE is calling on all interested parties to develop a technical solution that can be used to apply constant forces of up to one kilonewton to patients' fingers in small steps or continuously via a climbing grip. It should be possible to fix the forearm or hand in place and, if possible, isolate it from vibrations such as muscle twitching. A contact surface for the upper body or shoulders must be provided so that patients do not have to hold the applied force during the long recording time. The device must also be adaptable to different arm lengths and hand sizes, and the interchangeability of the handles must also be taken into account. Because the design must be suitable for use in the immediate vicinity of the MRI scanner, no magnetizable materials should be used.

ACE is offering prize money of 5,000 euros for the design draft with technical proof of functionality and feasibility of the winning team or individual. In addition, the accompanying chair will receive support in the amount of 2,000 euros. In the past, Innovace winners have also been able to use their victory as a springboard to a career at the Stabilus Group, ACE's parent company.

The invitation to tender with further details on the requirements and the technical framework conditions can be found on the ACE Stoßdämpfer homepage(www.ace-ace.de/de/news-presse/ace-awards/innovace-2024.html). Interested parties can ask questions during a web conference on March 21, 2024 at 3 p.m. Registrations for this must be sent exclusively by e-mail to Dieter Wohlschlegel by 19.03.2024 ([email protected]).