📋 Tender Overview
Researchers affiliated with the Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (IPF) and the Else Kroner Fresenius Center (EKFZ) for Digital Health at TU Dresden have developed a 3D-printed implant prototype that combines the recording of brain activity with targeted cooling. The technology could pave the way for alternative approaches to treating drug-resistant focal epilepsy. Oct 27, 2026, 4:30:38 PM Dr. Christiane Einmahl , Leibniz-Institut fur Polymerforschung Dresden e. V. Moore et al. (2026) Conducted in collaboration with researchers from the University of Sheffield, the study presents a design framework for creating multimodal implants using 3D printing technologies. Based on this framework, the team developed a miniaturized implant for focal brain cooling by combining soft silicone structures, fluidic channels, and electronic components. The system also includes an auxiliary driver unit that enables autonomous monitoring and control of the implants recording and cooling functions. Compared with previously proposed systems, this manufacturing approach could reduce implant complexity, fabrication time, and device size. The researchers first validated the implant system through finite element simulations and agar-based tissue models, demonstrating rapid, stable, and localized cooling. In subsequent experiments using a rodent model of epilepsy, the implants 3D-printed composite electrodes produced electrocorticography (ECoG) recordings of comparable quality to those obtained with a commercial system. The team also demonstrated that focal cooling could suppress experimentally induced seizure-like activity.The successful implementation of the design framework highlights the potential of 3D printing for developing compact, multifunctional medical implants and provides a promising foundation for further development toward clinical applications. The research was funded by the European Research Council (ERC) through the ERC Starting Grant IntegraBrain. Contact for scientific information: Prof. Dr. Ivan MinevEmail: minev@ipfdd.de Original Publication: Moore, S. R.; King, N.; Da Silva, A. C.; Howarth, C.; Berwick, J.; Paterson, T. E.; Minev, I. R.: Printing-Assisted Integration of Thermal, Fluidic and Electrical Components in Implants for Focal Brain Cooling. Advanced Science (2026).https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.77831 Source: https://idw-online.de/de/news879773
