ETH spin-off Spectroplast has developed a method to make silicone products using a 3D printer.

 

The young company now plans to bring to market customised medical products such as hearing aids, breast prosthesis for breast cancer patients and eventually even artificial heart valves.

 

Their ultimate goal is to save lives: the founders of the ETH spin-off Spectroplast, Manuel Schaffner and Petar Stefanov, have developed a novel 3D printing process capable of making biocompatible silicone parts.

 

“In the long term we hope to use the technology to offer medical implants,” says Schaffner, the young company’s CEO. “And not in standard sizes, as is the case with conventional off-the-shelf products, but customised to fit the individual patient perfectly.”

 

Until now, Additive Manufacturing has traditionally produced objects made of hard materials such as metal, ceramic, or plastic. On the other hand, soft elastic silicone is still being used exclusively with injection moulding, […]

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