Center for Sensor Technology and Digital Medicine

How can healthcare be made more efficient with the help of sensors and digital solutions? And how can novel medical technologies be integrated into innovative care solutions?

In order to guarantee health care for every individual and make the health care system sustainable for the future, Fraunhofer IIS has founded the "Center for Sensor Technology and Digital Medicine" in close cooperation with the University Hospital Erlangen and the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg.

Patient-specific therapy approaches, digital health applications, medical diagnostics using medical-grade wearables, and robotic systems for nursing care form the foundation for future-proof standard medical care and are to be developed, integrated, and clinically evaluated at the "Center for Sensor Technology and Digital Medicine" of Fraunhofer IIS.

The Fraunhofer IIS premises at Krankenhaustraße 12 of the University Hospital Erlangen comprise a unique infrastructure and reference systems for the development, integration and validation of novel health technologies in the clinical environment. Specially equipped laboratories offer interested companies the opportunity for technological advancements as well as their independent testing and implementation.

Call us today - we look forward to hearing from you!

We address highly relevant medical disciplines

We focus on the following research fields

Gait studies and algorithms for motion analysis with focus on neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's disease (Motion Lab)
Studies and clinical grade wearables for cardiovascular risk patients (Cardiology Lab)
Acquisition and AI-based analysis of psycho-physiological data (Psycho-Physiology Lab)
Digital study, patient and data management (Medical Data Lab)

As part of the close collaboration between Fraunhofer IIS, the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg and the University Hospital Erlangen, we are further expanding our expertise and technologies.

Our Laboratories

Gait Analysis Laboratory

In January 2022, our gait analysis laboratory (Motion Lab) was equipped with a state-of-the-art 3D- Motion Capture System (international gold standard of motion analysis). This allows us to support patient-centered therapies and validate new sensor technologies through objectively collected parameters on movement patterns.
Our gait analysis laboratory is equipped with 12 infrared cameras and 2 force plates. Our range of services includes a wide variety of applications: from study analyses of movement patterns in patients with Parkinson's disease to the validation of newly developed sensors for competitive sports.

Subject study — © Fraunhofer IIS/Bianca Möller

Psycho-physiological Laboratory

Environmental stimuli and sensory stimuli affect how we perceive our environment and react in certain situations. Many decisions we make occur unconsciously. Surveys, e.g., patient interviews or consumer research, often rely on conscious statements. A temporal assignment of the emotional reaction to the respective stimulus is only insufficiently possible in these surveys.
In our psycho-physiological laboratory, we set ourselves the goal of recognizing, interpreting and processing these human emotions and affects by machine. For this purpose, we have developed networked sensor solutions, emotion-adaptive technologies and perception-based user interfaces. Depending on your customer-specific requirements, different modalities such as infrared, eye tracking, ECG (HR, HRV), respiratory analysis or EMG are used.

Textile Multichannel ECG for Mobile Use — © iStock.com/Ivanko Brnjakovic

Cardiology Laboratory

In our cardiology laboratory we offer the possibility to validate technologies in the cardiolovascular field as well as to perform studies for cardiological questions. Measurements with different activity profiles can be performed in our facilities. Equipment ranging from a couch to a treadmill to an ergometer is available for this purpose. During the validation of the technologies we compare the product to be tested with the gold standard. In addition to measurement in the laboratory, we also offer the possibility of mobile measurement (validation of wearables).

Medical Data Lab

In our Medical Data Lab we develop solutions and technologies for digital patient and study management as well as solutions for interoperable interfaces and data models using international standards (FHIR, SnomedCT, LOINC...). One of our developments is DPM.research – a study management system for digital recording and execution of clinical studies.
DPM.research distinguishes itself from other study management systems by our individual service: We configure our study management system specifically according to the requirements of your study setting. The connection of sensors/wearables or the integration of a patient app for the recording of so-called Patient Reported Outcomes Measures (PROMS) on site or in the patient's daily routine are easily possible. In order to offer you the best possible service, we work closely with our cooperation partners, such as dmac GmbH and clinical partners.

Joint knowledge and technology transfer

In order to combine research with practical relevance within professionally operated infrastructures and to advance in the application-oriented fields, the "Center for Sensor Technology and Digital Medicine" of Fraunhofer IIS is being established in close cooperation with the University Hospital Erlangen as well as the Medical Faculty of the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg.

Applied research and
medical care