Medical Engineering in the UMCG
Description
The University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) is one of the largest hospitals in the Netherlands and the largest employer in the Northern Netherlands. Its more than 10,000 employees work in patient care and on leading scientific research, focusing on 'healthy and active ageing'. Scientific research and education involve close cooperation with the University of Groningen. Students are trained as doctors, dentists or movement scientists and doctors are trained as medical specialists. Patients come to the UMCG for basic care, but also for highly specialised diagnostics, research or treatment. Care is provided by the best doctors and nurses. Together with support staff, they work every day towards the one, common goal: building the future of health.
The UMCG has 3 core tasks: care, education and research
Tonight, researchers at UMCG give an insight into their field of research.
Explanation of lectures and tours
Looplab (Halbertsma)
Children with Spina Bifida have gait disorders due to damage to motor nerves. As a result, muscles of the lower extremities function with limited or no function at all. Using lower leg/foot orthoses, attempts are made to optimise gait function in these children. The improvement depends, among other things, on the properties of the orthosis used. In a gait lab, the effect of orthoses on gait function can be determined by measuring Ground Reaction Forces and Muscle Moments.
Thorax Centre (Maass)
The function of the heart can be evaluated by measuring electricity (e.g. by a "cardiac ultrasound") and by measuring volume displacement ("pump function"). The background of these techniques will be briefly explained and practical applications will be demonstrated during the tour.
Clinical Neurophysiology (Maurits)
In clinical Neurophysiology, techniques such as electroencephalography, electromyography, ultrasound, trancranial magnetic stimulation and accelerometry are used to measure brain, nerves and muscles. I will give a brief overview of the clinical capabilities of some of these measurement techniques. During the tour of the department, the devices used will be shown and demonstrated where possible
19:00-19:30 reception
19:30-20:30 plenary lectures
Drs Fokke Boorsma 'Medical technology in the UMCG'
Dr Jan Halbertsma 'The effect of ankle-foot orthoses on the gait pattern of children with Spina Bifida
Dr Alexander Maass 'Diagnostic and therapeutic devices in cardiology'
Prof. dr Natasha Maurits 'Measuring is knowing: clinical applications of neurophysiological measurement methods'
20:30-21:00 break, walk to locations for guided tours
21:00-21:45 guided tours on location (choice between gait lab/Thorax Centre/KNF)
21:45-22:00 back to Education Centre
Speaker(s)
Drs. Fokke Boorsma Head - Medical Technology UMCG
Dr. Jan Halbertsma Scientist - Gait Lab UMCG
Dr. Alexander Maass Cardiologist - Thorax Centre UMCG
Prof. Dr. Natasha Maurits Professor of Clinical Neuroengineering - Neurology UMCG
Location
Education centre, room 4
Organiser
Region North
Medical Technology
UMCG
Name and contact details for information
Dirk van Oerle, Tel: 06 40702032