1.Goals

Goals of the Collaborative Research Center 1261

The primary objective of the CRC 1261 is the development of magnetoelectric sensors for the medical technology sector. Thus, for example, activities of the brain, the heart or nerves can be analyzed. The advantage is that the signals are not affected by body tissue as they are when using electrical measurements like the electrocardiogram (ECG). That way signals can be captured very accurately which allows a detailed three-dimensional resolution.

A great challenge lies in the weak raw signals: The magnetic fields generated by the human body are about six orders of magnitude smaller than the Earth's magnetic field. Furthermore, there are many interfering sources that can influence the measurements such as mobile phones, power supplies or power cables. Research within the CRC 1261 is therefore also strongly focused on the shielding of the sensors and the suppression of interfering sources.

Researchers from material science, electrical engineering, physics and medicine cooperate closely within the CRC 1261 to make magnetoelectric sensors widely applicable. Further development of materials, sensor concepts, signal processing and application scenarios is intended to lead to mobile and cost-effective measuring systems for medical diagnostics. Thinking into the future the technology could even be used to control prostheses by the brain.