'Prize of the Federal President for exceptional work' for Jakob Rehberger (17) and Jonas Münz (16):
Titanium bone implants have tiny holes and pores, the sharp edges of which must be removed cleanly before surgical insertion. Many of the deburring processes commonly used in the industry leave behind tiny particles or impurities that can enter the patient's body. Jakob Rehberger and Jonas Münz found a solution to this problem. They developed a machine that removes the sharp edges of bone screws using ultrasound waves. The young researchers tested various solvents, temperatures, irradiation angles and irradiation times and analyzed the deburred screws for residues and germs. The result of their research work is a fully automated, ready-to-use ultrasound machine that delivers cleanly deburred and germ-free implants.