B. Braun announces an international competition to find and foster innovative ideas for surgical wound closure.
The year 2008 marks an important milestone in surgical sutures and wound closure: 100 years ago B. Braun introduced the first-ever industrially manufactured sterile surgical sutures. On the occasion of this centennial anniversary the Aesculap Division of the B. Braun Group proclaims its international competition The Future of Sutures on surgical sutures and wound closure. With this competition Aesculap, as an established partner of surgeons, provides a platform for the interdisciplinary exchange on the future of sutures to practitioners and researchers in approximately 30 countries. The best ideas will be honoured with prizes of a total value in excess of 400,000 euros. Start of registration is September 12, 2007.
”On top of our own corporate innovative power we aim at challenging and advancing the search for new approaches and perspectives on this surgical core sector“, Prof. Dr. Dr. Dr. h.c. Michael Ungethüm, Vice Chairman of the Management Board of B. Braun Melsungen AG and Chairman of the Management Board of Aesculap AG & Co. KG, highlights the company’s special initiative.
A century ago, physicians still stitched wounds with sutures made from mutton’s intestines. Today a broad range of products are available enabling the best care for every tissue. Nevertheless, innovative ideas are always hailed, as Prof. Dr. Hartwig Bauer, Secretary General of the German Society of Surgeons and one of the competitions’ patrons, states. ”Perhaps even a wound closure technique could be invented that would make seams or clamps completely redundant. Or maybe a ”thinking“ filament could be contrived that would adapt automatically to the specific conditions of the tissues or the users.”
International Patrons
With the German Society of Surgeons (DGCH) and the Royal College of Surgeons of England B. Braun managed to win the overall representations of the British and German surgeons in science and teaching as international patrons for the competition. Third in the group of patrons is the European Federation of Biotechnology (EFB), a non-profit organization of national biotechnology associations. ”We are supporting the contest because it promotes scientific advancement which is one of our most important goals “, Prof. Bauer of the DGCH explains: ”I am encouraging our members to contribute their ideas, and I would like to see a bundling of exciting and trend-setting ideas for the surgical community.”
Interdisciplinary Appeal
The Future of Sutures competition addresses individuals and teams from all areas of medical surgery, research and development, and creative minds generally, in approximately 30 countries. Entries can be submitted across the broad themes ”Natural Science and Technology“, ”Medicine and Usability“ as well as ”Form and Function“. The notion is to stimulate a look beyond one’s own backyard and for new approaches never thought of. ”Already in 1908, Carl Braun had benefited from the close co-operation with the surgeon Dr. Franz Kuhn“, Prof. Ungethüm noted: ”And today our corporation is still working along the same lines by partnering with the users for joint development of new products. We expect the competition to add a fresh impetus to the scientific community with coining impact on the future of sutures.“
Competition Details
Drafts of ideas can be submitted only online by February 29, 2008 at www.sutures-bbraun.com. Entries accepted for the contest must be elaborated by the end of June, 2008 and again submitted online. The national winners will be announced on September 15, 2008. They automatically qualify for the international stage. The overall winner of The Future of Sutures will be announced on December 5, 2008 during an awards ceremony at Langenbeck-Virchow-Haus in Berlin. The winner will receive a prize money of 100,000 euros the second and third placed will be awarded 50,000 and 25,000 euros respectively. Competition Timeline At a Glance Sept 12, 2007 – Feb 29, 2008 Registration phase By March 31, 2008 Initial review, evaluation and admission April 1 – June 30, 2008 Processing phase July 1 – Sept 15, 2008 National judging Sept 15, 2008 Announcement of the national winners Sept 15, 2008 - Dec 5, 2008 International judging Dec 5, 2008 Announcement of international prize winners and awards ceremony LVH Haus in Berlin
All details concerning The Future of Sutures are available at www.sutures-bbraun.com.
