Personalization: that is one of the strong trumps of 3D printing in healthcare. The Limburg scale-up Hashtag Two (#2) does this by 3D printing a custom-made breast prosthesis for women who have to miss a breast due to a tumor. Not only the technology is innovative, but also Hashtag Two’s business model.
Hashtag Two recently participated in AM for Production, where it demonstrated the real life application of 3D printing. Together with Arburg and Chill (Chemelot Innovation and Learning Labs), the company, founded by Monica Schlösser, showed the results that have been achieved so far. Everything revolves around 3D scanning, 3D printing and personalization.
Material with shore value 40 light and comfortable to wear
Multiple prostheses
Women with breast cancer who have to miss a breast have so far mostly been dependent on silicone prostheses. Especially in the first year following the operation, it must be replaced more often because skin and scars are still changing. Moreover, swimming requires a different prosthesis than one for daily activities. Custom-made silicone prostheses are expensive, heavy and less comfortable to wear. #2 wants to offer a personalized alternative with a completely new approach. The women scan their breast or scar with their smartphone using Hashtag Two’s own app. “The application we built ourselves converts the point cloud into a model that we can print,” explains Alexander Reutelingsperger, CTO at #2. The prosthesis is printed and fits the scar and body of the woman.
Freeformer prints material with shore value 40
In the development of the concept, there was a lot of collaboration with Chill, the innovation and learning lab of Zuyd Hogeschool on the Brightlands Chemelot campus. In this phase, among other things, the most suitable material and printing technology were sought. This has resulted in a material with a shore value of 40 that is printed on the Arburg Freeformer. This is very light, flexible and breathable, so that the prosthesis can be worn directly on the skin and no special bra is required. According to the CTO, few others can print the open structure of the prosthesis as well as the Freeformer. The 3D printer manufacturer has supported the Limburg company in the development of this application. The material used is much lighter than silicone, can be worn directly on the skin and can also be worn during swimming and sports. The capacity is currently 4,000 prostheses per year.
We offer women a solution: for a fixed amount per month, they can have several prostheses printed per year.
Boobs in subscription form
Alexander Reutelingsperger prefers not to talk regarding a product, but regarding a solution. “We offer women a solution because they can have several prostheses printed per year for a fixed amount per month. This means that the women always have a prosthesis that grows with their body and wishes.” Depending on the subscription, this is once or twice a year and the women can have another prosthesis – boop in Hashtag two’s jargon – printed in a different colour. The women return the prosthesis they no longer use to Hashtag Two. The material is processed into new feedstock for the Arburg Freeform printer. Hashtag Two is cheaper than the cheapest silicone prosthesis even with the most expensive subscription. Nevertheless, the 3D printed prostheses are not yet reimbursed by health insurers. “Silicone prostheses have a solid foundation with more than 40 years. We now have to break through that with our innovation.”
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