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Macu4 designs innovative forearm prosthetics that are lightweight, modular, and tailored through 3D printing. Their solutions help people regain functionality and adapt to any activity, providing affordable, high-quality prostheses that grow with children and support active lifestyles.
CHALLENGES:
To produce custom-made designs at a lower cost and with less weight.
Run the design-development phase with less cost and manufacturing repeatability.
MAIN INFORMATION:
Company
Macu4
Technology
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
Medical
Finishing Options
Paint
Product
Prosthesis
Material
Nylon PA12
About the Company:
Macu4 is a Zurich-based start-up founded in 2021 by a dedicated team of medical and entrepreneurs with expertise in healthcare to revolutionize arm prosthetics through new technologies such as design automation and 3D printing. Combining new technologies such as additive manufacturing and advanced materials creates unique and economical solutions that are tailor-made and optimal for each individual’s needs.
Overview of Project
About the Project:
Seeing that over 20 million people worldwide are living with limb loss, Macu4 set out to rethink the standard approach to forearm prosthetics. Their vision was to develop a solution that was lightweight, modular, and adaptable to each user’s lifestyle — whether that meant handling everyday tasks or participating in sports and outdoor activities. This led to the creation of the Explorer, a versatile prosthetic system featuring interchangeable “activity hands” that make it easy for users to switch between different grips and functions as needed.
Overcoming Challenges:
Developing a prosthetic that was both truly customized and cost-effective posed significant challenges. Traditional manufacturing methods are often slow and expensive, particularly for highly personalized medical devices. This is even more problematic for children, who require new prosthetics as they grow. Macu4 needed a solution that would allow them to rapidly prototype, test, and refine their designs without the heavy investment of molds or long production timelines. By leveraging additive manufacturing, they were able to overcome these obstacles. With 3D printing, Macu4 could create lightweight, tailor-made sockets for optimal comfort and fit, produce modular components like the Explorer’s activity hands in a single run, and easily scale manufacturing to meet demand. This approach ensured that they could deliver high-quality, personalized prosthetics quickly and at a price point accessible to more patients.
Future Developments:
Macu4 continues to explore the possibilities that additive manufacturing brings to prosthetic design. Using SLS technology and PA12, they’re able to produce durable, breathable, and visually appealing devices that closely resemble the quality of injection-molded parts. Looking ahead, Macu4 is committed to expanding access to these innovative prosthetic solutions, providing more individuals — especially children — with devices that can adapt to their growth and evolving lifestyles.
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