What has become of the manus winners?

The manus award is a joint initiative which the plastics specialist igus announces every two years. More than 3,000 contestants from across the globe have entered the competition in recent years, which honours the creative use of polymer plain bearings in industrial applications. This year, the manus award celebrates its tenth anniversary. A good reason to look back: what has become of the last nine winners and their projects? The Industrieanzeiger made enquiries

In 2015, Jan-Philipp Kobler received the gold manus for his promotion project. He developed a miniaturised parallel robot that supports doctors when they perform minimally invasive cochlea implant surgery for the treatment of inner-ear deafness and severe hearing difficulties. This technology requires a puncture channel from the skull surface to the basal winding of the cochlea, which can lie up to 35mm below the skull. Such a hole has a diameter of 2mm at most, and is located in direct proximity to anatomic structures that are worth protecting. Therefore, the device must work very precisely and also meet the hygienic medical requirements, such as steam sterilisation and disinfection. Jan-Philippe Kobler decided to use a drylin N glide bar with two carriages from igus to guide the surgical instruments. Furthermore, several iglidur X plain bearings are used in the rotating joint of the robot. The bearings are characterised by their freedom from lubrication, which means that they are ideal for the use in medical applications.

Mr. Kobler, what has happened since you won the manus award in 2015?

What has become of your project from 2015?

The system still exists. In the context of my dissertation, I carried out several examinations with the medical device under conditions that were as realistic as possible. It was not used on a patient, however. The research project was completed in 2015. Patents have been applied for and granted for the contents that are worthy of protection. Based on these patents, the concept is now continued in Hannover by two startup companies - HörSys IP GmbH & Co. KG and OtoJig GmbH - at the medical university. The idea of creating a minimally invasive cochlear approach lives on.

Have you worked on new applications with igus since you won the manus award? If so, which ones?

Both in professional and in private life, there are always points of contact with igus and their plain bearing technology products. My colleagues and I, for example, are all passionate espresso drinkers. When we make an espresso, it is important that the coffee powder is pressed into the filter holder properly. Normally, this task is carried out by hand. However, we have developed an automatic, strength-controlled espresso tamper, which includes the drylin linear bearings on aluminium shafts from igus.

Thank you for the interview.

This year, too, the jury under Werner Götz's patronage will be looking for unique applications with polymer plain bearings. The winner will receive prize money of up to 5,000 euros. For the first time, the contestants have the chance to win a green manus award for the use of plain bearings in a sustainable project. You can find more information at: www.manus-award.com