3FOLD is a foldable, origami-inspired surgical tool designed to enable fast, safe application of biocompatible pouches around pacemakers and neurostimulators. The tool is produced in tear-proof Tyvek and reduces pouch application time from five minutes to about three seconds while minimizing contamination and damage risk. The device ships flat and folds into a stable structure in a single motion, using origami, kirigami, and auxetic principles to deliver complex functionality from a simple fold. More than 500 prototypes were tested and refined with clinical staff, and the final iteration was integrated into sterile Hylomate packaging. Remote usability protocols enabled clinician testing during pandemic restrictions.
Every year, more than two million implants are placed worldwide. While these devices are life-saving, complications often arise from scarring and infection around the implant. To counter this, Hylomorph created Hylomate, a biocompatible pouch that wraps the implant to safeguard the body. However, its soft and slippery surface made it difficult to handle with conventional surgical tools. Standard tweezers could tear the pouch, while direct hand contact risked contamination, calling for a new solution.
Laurin Schaffner and Benjamin Relly shaped 3FOLD precisely for this delicate environment. Shipped flat, the tool folds into a stable structure in a single motion, enabling the pouch to be positioned quickly and without direct touch. The design process drew inspiration from origami, kirigami, and auxetic structures, resulting in a simple fold that unlocks complex functionality. More than 500 prototypes were tested and refined with clinical staff before the final iteration was integrated directly into the sterile packaging of Hylomate.
Collection
[
|
...
]