Accelerating Medical Device Prototyping and Development

Critical Manufacturing Support

Protolabs offers this support in a way that is faster than anyone else in the world. Through 3D printing, CNC machining and injection moulding, along with a simple-to-use CAD upload/quoting system that quickly gives advice on manufacturability, we can help get your project at speed to where it needs to go. 

The world's leading medical device development companies turn to Protolabs to unlock the benefits of the digital manufacturing model. Digital manufacturing accelerates development and market introduction through rapid prototyping, bridge tooling, and low-volume production.

Why Do Medical Device Development Companies Use Protolabs?

Bridge Tooling Before Production

Leverage affordable bridge tooling for design and market validation before capital investment in tools.

Interactive Design Analysis

Make critical design adjustments that save development time and cost with design for manufacturability (DFM) feedback on every quote.

Low-Volume Production

Get low-volume production parts in as fast as 1 day to streamline your supply chain once before and after products are launched to market.

ISO 13485 Certified

for Production of Medical Implants and Instruments

Technology Agnostic

Multiple manufacturing technologies across four services mean your parts are paired with the right equipment and processes regarding your project needs.

Medical Materials

Choose from high-temperature plastics, medical-grade silicone rubber, and 3D-printed micro-resolution and microfluidic parts, among hundreds of other plastic, metal, and elastomeric materials.

Rapid Prototyping

Create prototypes in production-grade materials for functional and regulatory testing, or 3D print models and organ scans to preview before medical procedures.

Production like Parts

Prototype Injection Moulding creates parts which allow form and function tests with the same material planned for production parts.

What Materials Work Best for Medical Applications?

High-temp Plastics. PEEK and PEI (Ultem) offer high-temperature resistance, creep resistance, and are suited for applications that require sterilization.

LSR. High temperature resistance and chemical stability fit for applications that require sterilization and flexibility.

3D-printed ABS. MicroFine Green™ is a proprietary material developed by Protolabs to build complex 3D-printed parts with micro-sized features as small as 0.07mm.
The material properties make it a great solution for form and fit testing during prototyping phase and design iteration.

Microfluidics. Watershed (ABS-like) is a clear material, which can be used to prototype microfluidic parts and transparent components like lenses and housings.

Medical Alloys. Between machined and 3D-printed metals, there are more than 20 metal material options available for medical components, instrumentation, and other applications. Metals like titanium and Inconel have attributes like temperature resistance while various stainless steel materials brings corrosion resistance and strength.
Protolabs Europe holds ISO 13485 certification for 3D printing DMLS, meaning we can support with medical implants.

Medical Case Studies

POLAR COOL

HEMOSONICS

ATLAS

PARKER HANNIFIN

NOVAX DMA

• Mercedes-AMG
• Moon Labs
• Lourd'innov
• Zellwerk GmbH
• Highland Biosciences
• DMG Dental
• Origin Product Design
• Opus KSD