Communication between implanted medical devices (AIMD) and medical doctors: Project ERMES
Published on 08/10/2024 by Marlene Kopf.
Project ERMES: Cutting edge research for good communication
Project ERMES has been funded under the highly competitive EIC Pathfinder program of 2024.
An active implantable medical device (AIMD) is a device that relies on electrical energy or another energy source, other than that produced by the human body or gravity, designed to be implanted in the human body. The growing demand for medical services, the rise of chronic diseases, and rapid technological advancements are key drivers in the increased use of AIMD. However, one of the major challenges in the development of AIMD is the limited ability to communicate with or control their functions, as they are deeply embedded within the body.
The ERMES project aims to revolutionize this aspect by introducing a novel concept for communication between medical professionals and AIMD through synthetic molecular communication (MC). MC, a bioinspired communication method, leverages molecules to encode and transmit information. The ERMES project seeks to apply this strategy, allowing medical personnel to effectively communicate with next-generation AIMD.
Leverage the potential of molecular messengers for AIMD
In project ERMES, the objectives are:
- Selecting, chemically designing, and synthesizing suitable molecular messengers.
- Designing and validating injection and modulation schemes that enable molecular messengers to propagate through the body’s vascular system, thus allowing doctors to send instructions to an AIMD.
- Developing detection methods for chemical messengers released by an AIMD into the bloodstream, and exploring ways to ensure secure and reliable communication between doctors and AIMD.
ERMES: Four pillars around AIMD
The consortium focuses on four core pillars around AIMD:
- Tools for theoretical development, including analytical models and simulations to design and optimize communication links.
- In-vitro experimental systems at a laboratory scale to demonstrate proof-of-concept in controlled settings.
- In-vivo experimental systems using specially designed models to study AIMD communication under real-life conditions.
- Ensuring trusted and secure communication between AIMD and medical professionals.
By harnessing molecular communication, ERMES aims to bridge the current gap in AIMD control and monitoring, bringing us closer to more intelligent, responsive, and secure medical devices that can seamlessly interact with healthcare providers.
How to use microfluidics for next generation AIMD communication
We at the MIC will develop a flow control setup for the project with specific components such as a microfluidic viscometer to support a system that mimics blood circulation in the human body.
You need a microfluidics partner for your project on implants as well? Let us know! We are interested in joining your consortium and are open to a wide variety of topics and calls.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon research and innovation program under HORIZON-EIC-2024-PATHFINDEROPEN-01-01, grant agreement no. tbd (ERMES).
Start date: tbd
End date: tbd
Overall budget: € 3,700,823.50
