POSITION-II · A pilot line for the next generation of smart catheters and implants

The objective of POSITION-II is to bring innovation in the development and production of smart catheters by the introduction of open technology platforms for miniaturization, AD conversion at the tip, ultra-sound MEMS devices and encapsulation. Open technology platforms will generate the production volume that will enable sustainable innovation. The availability of open technology platforms will result in new instruments that have a better performance, new sensing and imaging capabilities, while the scale of volume will result in lower manufacturing costs. The production of the “brains” of these smart catheters will take place in Europe, with many European partners contributing essential technologies. The POSITION-II project will consolidate Europe’s premier position as manufacturer of cath lab infrastructure since these new smart catheters will be seamlessly integrated in the cath lab hardware and software platforms. By combining the different sensing and imaging data a more intuitive cath lab experience will be achieved. Looking forward, POSITION-II prepares the European electronics industry for the next revolution in healthcare, bioelectronics implants. Bioelectronics implants are expected to replace a considerable fraction of traditional medicine by direct stimulation of nerves. The miniaturization and soft encapsulation platforms developed in POSITION-II will be the ideal technology frame work for the manufacturing of these bioelectronics implants. The technology platforms developed in POSITION-II are demonstrated by five challenging product demonstrators covering FRR, IVUS, ICE, EP and cell therapy as well as a bioelectronics implant to treat cluster headache.