Versatile Instrument Endoscopic Cap

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.