Moulding the future of orthopaedic care through 4D printing

Medtech firm's casts for broken bones can be reshaped, offering long-term savings for patients

- Timothy Goh

Entrepreneur Abel Teo literally went out on a limb to achieve his goal of wanting to work in a start-up that could solve a real-world problem through innovation and technology.

The opportunity came in 2020 when he met Ms Eleora Teo, a student from the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), during a venture-building programme.

The 3D-printed casts Ms Teo - no relation to Mr Teo - was trying to develop for broken limbs caught his attention as they sought to address many issues faced by patients with fractures.

“What caught my eye was that the design allows you to shower with it and scratch an itch whenever you like,” Mr Teo said. “It’s also designed to eliminate odours. Have you ever been near an old cast on someone’s arm? With the build-up of gunk and sweat underneath, it’s not the most pleasant smell.”

Mr Teo, Ms Teo and fellow co-founder Johannes Sunarko established Castomize in 2022 to create reusable and mouldable casts for broken bones using 4D-printing technology.

The idea to move from 3D to 4D printing came from Mr Teo, the medtech start-up’s chief executive, who realised that because the thermoplastics used in 4D printing are responsive to heat, they provide a more flexible solution than conventional 3D-printed casts.