A new era for veterinary medicine is underway. These innovations promise to transform the way we treat wounds and injuries in pets.
A new era for veterinary medicine is underway with the PetBionic project. This operation, co-financed by COMPETE 2030, aims to develop scalable and marketable bionic prostheses optimised for animals. These innovations promise to transform the way we treat wounds and injuries in pets.
Innovation in Bionic Prosthetics
PetBionic focuses on creating the first bionic prosthetics with optimised osseointegration capacity. This is achieved through the use of coatings with therapeutic agents. In addition, the prostheses will integrate cutting-edge technology, enriched with real-time monitoring. This monitoring gathers data through artificial intelligence, providing an unprecedented experience.
The project is being developed by a consortium involving Hospital Veterinário de S. Bento (HVSB), Composites Kingdom (CK) and the University of Aveiro (UA). Each partner brings complementary expertise, essential to the success of the operation.
Contributions from the Consortium
The HVSB offers medical and surgical expertise, ensuring that the development of prostheses meets practical needs.
Henrique Armés, DVM, MBA, MSc, PhD, comments: “Bionic prostheses, also known as endo-exo-prostheses, represent a recent advance in both human and veterinary medicine. By being implanted directly into the bone, they allow for a better proprioceptive perception of the bionic limb, providing a more natural experience when using it. This is especially important for animals, who are able to integrate these prostheses as if they were a natural limb.”
CK excels in the handling of composite materials and additive manufacturing. ‘Despite technological advances, implants applied to animals are still developed in an unmethodical way,’ notes Armés. This know-how is vital for optimising strength and weight, crucial factors in prostheses. The UA, for its part, will carry out studies into the properties of materials and their interactions with bone. This research will make it possible to validate the effectiveness of the devices developed.
Innovative Methods of Operation
PetBionic investigates the ergonomics of implants and solutions to optimise bone integration. Armés explains: “The PETBIONIC project investigates which materials and implant shapes offer the best ergonomics, which is essential for making bionic prostheses more efficient and standardisable. It is also studying strategies to optimise bone integration, speeding up and improving this process.”
The advanced instrumentation will also enable continuous monitoring of the bionic limbs. According to Armés, ‘this monitoring is aimed at collecting and analysing biometric data, which is currently non-existent in this area’. Obtaining and processing this data by identifying movement patterns using artificial intelligence will have a significant impact on the functionality of prostheses.
Future Objectives and Impact
The expected results of the operation are significant. PetBionic promises to break new ground in regenerative medicine and bioengineering. Creating artificial limbs that establish a closer link between living tissues and prosthetic components is one of the main objectives. In addition, the project will ensure that the techniques developed can be transposed to human medicine.
With a clear vision and the combination of expertise, PetBionic is well placed to revolutionise the market. Obtaining patents for the innovations developed is a priority, solidifying the project’s position at the forefront of technology. The future of veterinary medicine has never been brighter.
Links
Website | Hospital Veterinário de S. Bento
Website | Composites Kingdom
Website | Universidade de Aveiro