Versatile Instrument Endoscopic Cap

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Robust coating

Sub-project: Innovative surface treatments for 3D-printed multifunctional endoscope attachments

The surfaces of medical and medical technology products must meet a wide variety of demanding requirements, such as biocompatibility and sterilizability. Special coatings can be used to functionally modify surfaces so that they meet these requirements.

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a modern coating process that is particularly suitable for medical technology products and applications. One advantage is that complex geometries can be coated. Although coatings with ALD only comprise a few atomic layers, they are very homogeneous and stable.

In its project, HFU is investigating the basic possibilities for surface modification of 3D-printed medical products (endoscope attachments) with complex geometries and miniaturized dimensions. The biggest challenge here is that 3D-printed materials tend to be porous due to the manufacturing process, meaning that outgassing can occur during the coating process in a vacuum.

  • Coating process of 3D-printed materials problematic 3D-printed materials tend to be porous due to the manufacturing process, so that outgassing can occur during the coating process in a vacuum.
  • Experiments using atomic layer deposition (ALD) process Experiments are being carried out using the ALD process for coating 3D-printed parts (endoscope attachments) with complex geometry and miniaturised dimensions.
  • ALD coatings ideal for medical technology ALD coatings comprise only a few atomic layers, yet they are extremely homogeneous and stable, making them particularly suitable for medical technology products and applications.

Project partners

  • Furtwangen University
  • Ovesco Endoscopy AG, Tübingen

Funding

The project is funded by the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) through the Central Innovation Program for SMEs (ZIM).

  • Versatile Instrument Endoscopic Cap (I68)
  • Versatile Instrument Endoscopic Cap (I69)