An interesting spin-off of the Eindhoven University of Technology is 'heart valves factory' QTIS/e. QTIS/e uses the patient’s own living cells to produce a new heart valve. Because this so-called ‘one valve for life’ heart valve replacement grows along with the (young) patient, only one operation is necessary. The heart valves are cultured in a bioreactor and through mechanical stimuli ‘trained’ to form strong tissue.
Another example of a recent Brainport innovation is the ‘iPill’ for the treatment of Crohn's disease or other forms of chronic intestinal inflammation. Philips Research has developed a probe in the form of a pill that just has to be swallowed to treat the disease on the spot. The smart pill works in the patient’s body like a mini-doctor. The iPill is approximately 1 x 2.5 centimetres large and consists of a drug reservoir, a microprocessor (controlling a fluid pump), a battery, a PH sensor to measure PH values and a temperature sensor. By means of a radio chip, the pill reports data (such as body temperature) to a computer, which then provides the iPill with additional instructions.
