Professor Dr. med. Michael Tchirikov

Professor Dr. med. Michael Tchirikov is Director of the Department of Obstetrics and Perinatal Medicine at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg in Halle (Saale). He also heads the Centre for Fetal Surgery and the Level 1 Prenatal Centre.

Michael Tchirikov was born in 1967 in Torzhok (Russia). He is the author of unique techniques and innovations in prenatal diagnostics and fetal surgery, Vice-President of the German-Russian Association of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (DRAGG) and Director of Prenatal International GmbH.

Author and co-author of more than 60 publications in national and international journals.

Education

• 1984-1992: State Medical Institute, Kalinin (USSR), today Tver State Medical University (Russia), and the First Pavlov State Medical University of St Petersburg;
• 1992 -1995: postgraduate studies at the D. O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, followed by the award of the degree of Candidate of Medical Sciences;
• 1995-2002: further specialisation in obstetrics and gynaecology at the University Hospital Hamburg (Germany);
• 2002: board examination as a specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology at the University Hospital Hamburg;
• 23.11.2004: award of the degree of Doctor of Medical Sciences at the University Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Hamburg.
  02.02.2005: authorisation to teach granted in the speciality "Obstetrics and Gynaecology".

Research and clinical fellowships abroad

• 1998-2001: fellowship under the Eurofetus program at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium;
• 2002: fellowship at the Adventist Medical Center of Loma Linda University, California, USA;
• 2003: fellowship at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA.

Grants / Scholarships / Awards

• 1990-1992: Lenin Scholarship of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St Petersburg, Russia;
• 1994-1995: research grant from the Soros Foundation, USA;
• 1995-1996: research grant from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for work at the Institute of Physiology of the University of Hamburg (Germany);
• 2000: Young Investigator Award for trophoblast research from the International Federation of Placenta Associations (IFPA), 14th Congress, Rochester, New York, USA;
• 2003: Dr Hackert Foundation Award for research in perinatal medicine, presented at the German Congress of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Düsseldorf, Germany;
• 2003: research grant for work at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas;
• 2011: nomination for the German Research Foundation award from Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany;
• 2017: Innovation Award, Halle, Germany;
• 2017: winner of the 1st Hugo Junkers Prize in the category "Most innovative project and applied research" for the unique development "Artificial amniotic fluid for the continuous replacement of amniotic fluid and for lavage in cases of preterm premature rupture of the membranes and loss of amniotic fluid between the 22nd and 28th weeks of pregnancy (Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes (PPROM)) and a perinatal port system for the infusion of amniotic fluid in cases of preterm premature rupture of the membranes and loss of amniotic fluid".

Patents held by Professor Michael Tchirikov

1. USA Patent US 9,682,128 B2, Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
“Hypotonic aqueous composition with reduced chlorine content, with or without phospholipis.”
2. EU 2489408A1
“Amino acid compound and its use of same for treating intrauterine fetal growth restriction (IUGR) or for parenteral nutrition of extremely premature infants”
3. Eurasia Patent № 028055, Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
“Amino acid compound and its use of same for treating intrauterine fetal growth restriction (IUGR) or for parenteral nutrition of extremely premature infants”
4. EP 2614851A1
“Catheter”
5. China103203063A
“Catheter”
6. US 2013184647A1
“Catheter”
7. EP Nr. 2566397, Date of Patent: November 4, 2015
„Ballonkathetersystem zur Abdichtung von Punktionsstellen bei Körperhöhlen, Hohlorganen oder perkutenen Systemen in Säugetieren.“
8. DE Patent Nr. 10 2010 019 7955, Date of Patent: October 27, 2016
„Ballonkathetersystem zur Abdichtung von Punktionsstellen bei Körperhöhlen, Hohlorganen oder perkutenen Systemen in Säugetieren.“
9. USA Patent US 9,295,457 B2, Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
“Balloon cathetr system for sealing puncture points in body cavities, hollow organs or in percutaneous systems in mammals.”
10. USA Patent US 9,072,755 B2, Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
“Hypotonic aqueous composition with reduced chlorine content, with or without phospholipis”
11. Eurasia Patent № 027317, Date of Patent: July 31, 2017
«Hypotonic aqueous composition with reduced chlorine content, with or without phospholipids»“Hypotonic aqueous composition with reduced chlorine content, with or without phospholipis”
12. EU 12 701 434.8
„Hypotone wässrige Zusammensetzung mit verringertem Chloridgehalt mit oder ohne Phospholipide.“
13. China 2012 8000 4792.9
Hypotonic aqueous composition with reduced chlorine content, with or without phospholipis.
14. US 9,339,633 B2, Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
“Balloon catheter system for draining fluids from hollow organs, body cavities or cycts and/or for supplying medication”
15. EP 15 196 990.4
„Einrichtung für die Durchführung von Organokklusionen, insbesondere einer intrauterinen Trachealokklusion bei der Behandlung einer angeborenen fetalen Zwerchfellhernie –„Long Tail Balloon“
16. PCT/EP 2017/056704
„Künstliches Gebärmuttersystem und Plazenta“

Teaching and professional career

• 1990-1992: assistant at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, I. P. Pavlov State Medical Institute, St Petersburg;
• 1992-1995: assistant at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Hamburg, Germany;
• 1995-2006: Privatdozent, senior research fellow and head of research and teaching organisation at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Hamburg, Germany;
• 2006-2011: Professor at the Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Perinatal Medicine at the University Hospital of Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany;
• since 2011: Professor at the Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Perinatal Medicine at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany; Head Physician and Medical Director of the Department of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine and of the Centre for Fetal Surgery at Martin Luther University Hospital Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.

Today there are several large fetal surgery centres in the world. The best known are in Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and the USA. Not all of these centres publish reports on their work or their statistics.
The company msp group germany  works only with those fetal surgery centres that not only monitor the quality of their services continuously, but also publish reports on it.

One of the unique centres for prenatal diagnostics and the in-utero correction of fetal abnormalities is the Centre for Fetal Surgery at Martin Luther University Hospital in Halle. The techniques using ultra-fine fetal surgical instruments developed by its head, Professor Michael Tchirikov, have earned the Centre a reputation as the best in the world in terms of fetal survival rates.

The following medical products and instruments have been granted numerous European and American patents:

1. long-tail balloon dilator Long-Tail-Ballonsystem for occlusion of the trachea in congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Tracheal occlusion prevents the fluid contained in the lungs from escaping through the mouth. As fluid continues to be produced, its volume increases, expanding the lungs and inducing their further development.
The balloon dilators used in other fetal surgery centres are smaller. With them, the balloon is removed from the trachea either after the birth of the child (by caesarean section) or by an additional minimally invasive procedure 4 weeks before natural delivery. The Long-Tail-Ballonsystem balloon system needs no separate removal procedure: the child can pull the balloon out of the trachea by its long tail, or, if that does not happen, the balloon is punctured with a syringe used to sample amniotic fluid. This technique is notable not only for its low risks to mother and fetus, but also for considerable cost savings: there is no need to pay for a procedure to remove the balloon, and there are none of the requirements imposed at other centres for the mother to stay nearby because of the high risk of preterm rupture of the membranes and loss of amniotic fluid.

2. artificial amniotic fluid for the continuous replacement of amniotic fluid and for lavage in cases of preterm premature rupture of the membranes and loss of amniotic fluid between the 22nd and 28th weeks of pregnancy (Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes (PPROM));

3. the two-chamber Double-Bubble-Ballon balloon catheter system for the infusion of amniotic fluid, for use up to the 34th week of pregnancy;

4. perinatal port system for the infusion of amniotic fluid in cases of preterm premature rupture of the membranes and loss of amniotic fluid;

5. balloon catheter system for the treatment of infravesical obstruction in the fetus (lower urinary tract obstruction).

After the mandatory ultrasound and fetal MRI examinations carried out to verify the diagnosis and confirm the need for surgery, the Centre for Fetal Surgery in Halle can provide treatment for:

• twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome in monochorionic multiple pregnancy (TTTS);
• congenital diaphragmatic hernia in the fetus (CDH);
• fetal obstructive uropathy (LUTO);
• as well as the implantation of a port system for the continuous infusion of fluid replacing amniotic fluid in cases of early preterm rupture of the membranes, oligohydramnios or the complete absence of amniotic fluid (anhydramnios).

The Centre for Fetal Surgery in Halle. Facts and figures

• has unique innovative equipment for fetal surgical procedures (1 mm optics);
• has had the world's best fetal survival statistics after laser surgery for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome since 2008 (85%);
• has 22 years of experience in fetal surgery with outstanding clinical results;
• reviews the indications for surgery meticulously;
• has a modern operating theatre with laser equipment;
• undergoes continuous  certification and recertification procedures, as well as quality management monitoring.

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