Empa Secures Werner Siemens Foundation Funding to Develop SonoGuard Postoperative Monitoring Technology

Inge Herrmann is an expert in innovative medical technology developments and heads the Ingenuity Lab in Zurich. Image: WSS / Felix Wey, Baden

(IN BRIEF) Empa researcher Inge Herrmann has secured 8 million Swiss francs in funding from the Werner Siemens Foundation to develop SonoGuard, a novel system designed to detect and treat complications after surgery. The five-year project aims to create an ultrasound-activated contrast agent capable of continuously monitoring surgical sites deep inside the body and responding when complications such as infections or poor wound healing occur. The technology combines early detection with targeted treatment and may be integrated into a highly adhesive hydrogel patch developed in earlier research. Initially focused on gastrointestinal surgery, the system could also be applied to implant-related infections such as those associated with knee or hip replacements. The project seeks to improve patient outcomes by enabling earlier diagnosis and non-invasive intervention.

(PRESS RELEASE) DÜBENDORF, 27-Feb-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Empa, in collaboration with researchers at Balgrist University Hospital in Zurich, has secured major funding from the Werner Siemens Foundation to develop an innovative system for detecting and treating complications after surgery. The project, led by Empa researcher Prof. Dr. Inge Herrmann, will receive 8 million Swiss francs over a five-year period to advance the SonoGuard technology, which aims to provide continuous monitoring of surgical sites deep inside the body.

The idea for the main component of SonoGuard came from doctoral student Benjamin Suter. Image: WSS / Felix Wey, Baden

Postoperative complications such as infections or impaired wound healing often remain undetected until they reach advanced stages, as current diagnostic methods provide only limited real-time insight into processes occurring inside the body. The SonoGuard project seeks to overcome these limitations by introducing a novel contrast agent capable of identifying complications at an early stage and supporting timely treatment.

Inge Herrmann, who leads the Ingenuity Lab at Balgrist University Hospital and is affiliated with both the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, is directing the interdisciplinary research effort. The project is focused on developing a specialized contrast agent that remains inactive under normal conditions but becomes detectable when complications arise. Once activated, the agent can be monitored using ultrasound technology, allowing clinicians to observe molecular-level changes in real time without invasive procedures.

The research also aims to integrate therapeutic substances into the contrast agent, enabling the system not only to identify complications but also to provide targeted treatment when required. This approach combines early diagnosis and intervention into a single minimally invasive solution. Patent applications covering elements of the technology are currently in progress.

The concept behind the SonoGuard system originated with doctoral researcher Benjamin Suter, whose work contributed to the development of the key components of the technology.

One important area of application is gastrointestinal surgery, where incomplete healing of surgical connections can result in leakage of gastric or intestinal fluids into the abdominal cavity. Such complications can lead to severe infections and life-threatening conditions such as sepsis if not detected early. Current diagnostic approaches often identify these problems only after significant progression, limiting treatment options.

The SonoGuard system is being designed to detect such complications earlier and to enable intervention before serious infections develop. The technology may also be applicable to other surgical procedures, including operations involving artificial joint implants such as knee and hip replacements, where early detection of infection remains a major challenge.

The research builds on previous work in which the team developed a highly adhesive and biocompatible hydrogel patch capable of sealing surgical wounds more effectively than conventional materials. The new contrast agent is expected to be integrated into this hydrogel system, enabling both secure wound closure and continuous monitoring.

Laboratory tests have already shown promising results, providing a strong foundation for further development during the project period, which will run from 2025 through 2030.

The SonoGuard initiative represents a significant step toward improving postoperative care by enabling earlier detection of complications and reducing the need for invasive diagnostic procedures.

Facts and figures

Funding from the Werner Siemens Foundation: 8 million Swiss francs

Project duration: 2025 – 2030

Project management: Prof. Dr. Inge Herrmann, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich

Media Contacts:

Prof. Dr. Inge Herrmann
Empa, Nanomaterials in Health
Phone +41 58 765 71 53
inge.herrmann@empa.ch
Balgrist University Hospital, The Ingenuity Lab
inge.herrmann@balgrist.ch

Werner Siemens Foundation
Phone +41 41 720 21 10
info@wernersiemens-stiftung.ch

Dr. Andrea Six
Communications
Phone +41 58 765 6133
redaktion@empa.ch

SOURCE: EMPA