Hubert Egger (medical technician)

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Hubert Egger

Hubert Egger (born March 14, 1964 in Brixen ) is a medical technician. The success of his research with bionic arm and leg prostheses for people with limb amputations attracted worldwide attention when, under his leadership, the thought-controlled arm prosthesis was presented in 2007, then the feeling hand prosthesis in 2009 and finally the first feeling leg prosthesis in 2015.

Life

Egger grew up as the seventh of eight children in a mountain farming family in St. Andrä in South Tyrol . After primary and secondary school, he completed the state vocational school for industrial electricians in Bruneck , the trade school for industrial electronics and the trade high school in Bozen , where he graduated in 1984 in electrical engineering. In autumn 1984 Egger moved to Vienna , where he first studied electrical engineering and then communications engineering at the Vienna University of Technology . In 1993 he also enrolled at the Medical University of Vienna and obtained his doctorate in 1999 in the field of medical technology at the Technical University of Vienna. Egger focuses his efforts on using existing parts of motor and sensory nerves in the stump of people with limb amputations for the interaction with artificial high-tech limbs, so that they function as bionic arm and leg prostheses in their biological counterparts to natural ones Bring limbs as close as possible.

Create

Mind controlled arm prosthesis

In 2007, Otto Bock , where he headed research projects from 2000 to 2011, presented the world's first thought-controlled arm prosthesis by the Austrian Christian Kandlbauer . This bionic arm prosthesis contained six electrodes and three joints. It was controlled by the nerves that supplied the patient's natural arm with motor prior to the amputation . In an operation , the severed nerves were connected to several chest muscles , which served as biological amplifiers for the motor movement commands. By means of electromyography the electrical movement commands were picked off at the skin surface, and thus the bionics - prosthesis intuitively controlled (only by means of "memory" of thought).

Sensitive hand prosthesis

In 2009, the company presented the extended version of this bionic arm prosthesis, the first prototype with the feeling hand prosthesis. He integrated artificial pressure, vibration and temperature sensors into the fingertips of the prosthetic hand, which act like the receptors in natural skin and generate electrical signals when an object is grasped. In addition to the descending direction of transmission of the movement commands from motor nerves to the bionic prosthesis, the electrical signals from the artificial sensors in the prosthetic fingers were also transmitted to the brain in the ascending direction of transmission. For this purpose, pressure, vibration and temperature actuators integrated in the prosthesis shaft were used, which transmitted the sense of touch to surgically diverted cutaneous nerves, which were sensitive to natural fingers before the amputation .

Sensing prosthetic leg

In 2015, the Upper Austria University of Applied Sciences , for which Egger has been teaching and researching since 2012, presented the first sensory prosthetic leg of the Austrian Wolfgang Rangger in cooperation with the Medical University of Innsbruck . There were six force sensors in the sole of the prosthetic foot, which recorded the rolling movement when walking. The electrical signals from these artificial sensors were sent to the brain in a similar way to the sensory hand prosthesis. For this purpose, vibration actuators integrated into the prosthesis shaft from mobile phones were used, which transmitted the rolling movement of the prosthetic foot to surgically diverted cutaneous nerves that supplied areas of the natural foot with sensitive care before the amputation.

  • Sensitive leg prosthesis presented for the first time by Hubert Egger

  • Sensitive lower leg prosthesis on the climbing wall

  • Sensitive leg prosthesis in the Technical Museum Vienna

Egger deliberately did not patent circuitry ideas for the sensory leg prosthesis and implemented them with low-cost components from industrial electronics. He justified his approach in order to make it easier for start-ups and small and medium-sized medical technology companies to further develop their prototypes into marketable medical products and, against the background of the resulting market diversity, to make bionic prostheses more affordable for as many people with limb amputations as possible, including people in thresholds - and developing countries. His first prototype of the feeling leg prosthesis is exhibited in the Vienna Technical Museum .

Bionic leg prosthesis "Suralis"

Bionic leg prosthesis "Suralis". Olympic champions Toni Innauer (left) and Hubert Egger (right) in the Concordia Press Club in Vienna.

In 2019, the start-up company Saphenus Medical Technology announced that the new development "Suralis" was about to enter the market. It is a marketable medical product based on Egger's ideas , which consists of a wireless transmitter and receiver unit and makes existing prosthetic legs feel. The two components work independently and can be used as an add-on for every commercially available prosthesis, regardless of the technical design and regardless of the manufacturer. Operation and individual adjustment of the intensity of feeling should be possible using a smartphone. Olympic champion Toni Innauer is co-founder of Saphenus Medical Technology . The founding of the start-up company and the marketing of the medical product are supported by the European Commission as part of the Horizon2020 funding program .

Awards and honors

Awarding of the 1st place of the Vienna Future Prize to Hubert Egger (center) on November 7, 2008 in the City Hall of Vienna
Awarding the Medal of Honor to Hubert Egger (left) by Mayor Peter Brunner (right) on November 22, 2019 in the Festsaal Forum Brixen
  • 1996: Sponsorship award for young South Tyroleans abroad from the “Futura” initiative in South Tyrol
  • 2008: Awarded 1st place in the Vienna Future Prize for the “Mind-Controlled Arm Prosthesis” project by the Mayor of Vienna
  • 2009: Award for special professional achievements by the mayor of the home town of Brixen
  • 2013: Honored as "South Tyrolean of the day" by the radio station Südtirol1
  • 2013: First award for "Upper Austrian of the day" by the Upper Austrian News
  • 2015: Second award for “Upper Austrian of the Day” by the Upper Austrian News
  • 2019: Awarding of the Medal of Honor for services to the city of Brixen and the community by the home parish in the Festsaal Forum Brixen

literature

  • H. Egger: The thought-controlled and the feeling arm prosthesis. Orthopädie Aktuell, pp. 156–161, Argelanderstrasse 59, 53115 Bonn, March 2010
  • H. Egger: The feeling hand prosthesis. Credit Suisse, Nano Circle, Innovative Technologies and Trends, March 2010
  • H. Egger: Gait Analysis in Prosthetic Care. Eurocom eV Aktuell, pp. 1–8, August Klotz Str. 16d, D52349 Düren, October 2014
  • EM. Baur, H. Egger: A New Approach to a Sensitive Leg Prosthesis - A Case Study. Sensory feedback by means of relocated sensory nerves from the foot area. Orthopädietechnik Neuroprothetik, Verlag Orthopädie-Technik / Bundesinnungsverband für Orthopädie-Technik, Reinoldistr. 7–9 44135 Dortmund, July 2016
  • EM. Baur, H. Egger: Medium-term clinical result after sensitive nerve transfer surgery (TSR) and fitting of a “feeling leg prosthesis”. Case report, Orthopädie-Technik publishing house / Federal Association for Orthopedic Technology, Reinoldistr. 7–9 44135 Dortmund, November 2018

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Austrian researchers develop thought-controlled arm prosthesis: Young Styrian first patient in Europe! Austria Press Agency, broadcast on November 13, 2007.
  2. ↑ Robot arm controlled by the mind BBC News, May 12, 2010 article.
  3. ↑ Man "passes driving test using robotic arm controlled by his brain" The Telegraph, article from May 13, 2010.
  4. ↑ First arm prosthesis that is controlled with thoughts Die Welt, article from November 14, 2007.
  5. ↑ Bild Zeitung's first thought-controlled arm prosthesis , article from December 12, 2007.
  6. ^ Prosthetics: The Cyborg Arm Profile, article from November 17, 2007.
  7. ↑ People think technology steers Stern, article from April 18, 2008.
  8. ↑ Title ( Memento from April 11, 2019 in the Internet Archive ) Die Presse, article from November 13, 2007.
  9. ↑ Otto Bock presents "Fühlende Hand" Der Standard, article from November 27, 2009.
  10. ↑ Otto Bock presents sensory arm prosthesis ARGE LISAvienna (Live Science Austria), article from November 27, 2009.
  11. ^ Prostheses with feeling Das Erste, broadcast on November 14, 2010.
  12. ↑ Mind-controlled prosthetic arm moving to market in Europe Engadget, article from December 5, 2010.
  13. ↑ Prostheses with Heads, Radio Ö1, broadcast on November 30, 2010.
  14. ↑ First person with sensory leg prosthesis Austria Press Agency, broadcast on June 8, 2015.
  15. ↑ Artificial leg allows patient to feel BBC News, June 8, 2015 article.
  16. ↑ World's first "feeling" prosthetic leg fitted in Austria The Telegraph. Article dated June 8, 2015.
  17. ↑ Austrian pioneers first "feeling" leg prosthesis The Local Austria, article from June 8, 2015.
  18. ^ First human with prosthetic leg that can feel Medica Magazine, June 26, 2015 article.
  19. ↑ New Prosthetic Leg Helps Patients Regain Feeling Post-Amputation, And Fights Phantom Limb Pain Medical Daily, June 9, 2015 article.
  20. ↑ World-First Prosthetic Leg Lets Amputee "Feel" His Foot. ScienceAlert, article dated June 11, 2015.
  21. ↑ The New “Feeling” Prosthetic Leg Youth Independent, June 8, 2015 article.
  22. ↑ World's first "feeling" leg offers new ray of hope to amputees Times of Oman, article from June 8, 2015.
  23. ↑ New prosthetic leg is first with "feeling" ABC News, article from June 9, 2015.
  24. ↑ World's 1st "feeling" prosthetic leg unveiled in Austria Russia Today, article from June 8, 2015.
  25. ^ The First Artificial Leg that Can Feel NFS Leasing. Article dated June 24, 2015.
  26. ↑ An artificial leg which can feel and reduce pain EuroNews, article from June 11, 2015.
  27. ↑ First "feeling" prosthetic leg photo preview 51980784 European Pressphoto Agency, Published on June 8, 2015.
  28. ↑ Patient receives the world's first "feeling" prosthetic leg Advisory Board, article from June 15, 2015.
  29. ↑ Prosthetic leg gives feeling back to amputees Alphr, article from June 10, 2015.
  30. ↑ The prosthetic did simulates TOUCH: Nerve endings wired to sensors create the "feeling" of a real limb Daily Mail article on June 8, 2015.
  31. ↑ Austrian Surgeon Adds Feeling to Prosthetic Leg Orthopedics This Week | RRY Publications, June 19, 2015 article.
  32. ↑ Upper Austrians with the world's first sensory leg prosthesis on the road Salzburg24, article from June 8, 2015.
  33. ↑ The feeling prosthesis Die Neue Südtiroler Tageszeitung, article from June 8, 2015.
  34. ↑ Researchers create artificial leg with "feeling" ExtremeTech, article from June 12, 2015.
  35. ^ Professor Hubert Egger tests leg prosthesis ABC News Australia, article dated June 9, 2015.
  36. ↑ World's first 'feeling' prosthetic leg revealed Newsweek, June 8, 2015 article.
  37. ↑ Newly Developed Artificial Limb Lets Amputees “Feel” IFL Science, accessed April 23, 2019.
  38. ↑ World's first "feeling" leg prosthesis unveiled The Sidne Morning Herald, article from June 9, 2015.
  39. ↑ The prosthesis that thinks ff the Südtiroler Wochenmagazin, article from February 2, 2017.
  40. ↑ Sensors can make you happy Die Presse, article from June 1, 2018.
  41. ↑ saphenous - technology medical. Retrieved September 5, 2019 .
  42. ↑ Sensitive prosthesis is ready for the market. June 3, 2019, accessed September 5, 2019 .
  43. ↑ derStandard.at. Retrieved September 5, 2019 (Austrian German).
  44. ↑ 10 39 am, 03 June 2019: Bionics: World's first sensory lower leg prosthesis before market launch. June 3, 2019, accessed September 5, 2019 .
  45. ↑ Worldwide first sensory lower limb prosthesis before market launch. Retrieved September 5, 2019 .
  46. ↑ aktiencheck de AG: World's first sensory lower limb prosthesis before market launch. () | aktiencheck.de. Retrieved September 5, 2019 .
  47. ↑ Medical sensation: the world's first sensory lower limb prosthesis before market launch. June 3, 2019, accessed September 5, 2019 .
  48. ↑ uwe.mauch: Leg prosthesis: Finally no more phantom pain. Retrieved September 5, 2019 .
  49. ↑ Worldwide first sensory lower limb prosthesis before market launch. Retrieved September 5, 2019 .
  50. ↑ The feeling leg prosthesis: invention from Upper Austria is now ready for series production. Retrieved September 5, 2019 .
  51. ↑ Salzburger Nachrichten: Leg prosthesis should give back feeling. Retrieved September 5, 2019 .
  52. ↑ A leg prosthesis that the person affected can feel. June 3, 2019, accessed September 5, 2019 .
  53. ↑ Hugo Huber: Sensor shoes make prostheses “bionic”. June 3, 2019, accessed September 5, 2019 .
  54. ↑ stol it Südtirol Online Italy: Sensitive leg prosthesis: “I finally had no more pain”. June 12, 2019, accessed September 5, 2019 .
  55. ↑ Sensitive to the legs. Retrieved September 5, 2019 .
  56. ↑ QUANTUM LEAP: Prosthetics | QUANTUM LEAP - The documentary: Machine people - ORF III. Retrieved September 5, 2019 .
  57. ↑ CORDIS | European Commission. Retrieved September 5, 2019 .
  58. ↑ Futura - Foundation for young South Tyroleans abroad. Retrieved January 27, 2020 .
  59. ↑ Projects awarded the Vienna Future Prize. Retrieved January 27, 2020 .
  60. ^ Sito ufficiale del Comune di Bressanone. Retrieved January 27, 2020 .
  61. ↑ suedtirol1.it :: South Tyroleans of the day. Retrieved January 27, 2020 .
  62. ↑ Upper Austrian News | OÖN. Retrieved January 27, 2020 .
  63. ↑ Upper Austrian News | OÖN. Retrieved January 27, 2020 .
  64. ↑ In November 19, the city of Brixen honors committed citizens. Retrieved January 27, 2020 .
personal data
SURNAME Egger, Hubert
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Medical technician
DATE OF BIRTH March 14, 1964
PLACE OF BIRTH Brixen