Laser sintering technology enables medical technology designers to print plastic objects for feasibility studies within a very short time. The functional prototypes largely have the same properties as injection-molded parts. EEM AG goes one step further: It manages a balancing act between the production of prototypes and small series.

Relaxation in an inclined position: Whether made from walnut for use at home or with a smooth surface for medically certified applications, the grow chair is available in three versions: grow private, grow medical, and grow office. (Credit: EEM)

“The spine is the key to health,” says Cyrill Aemisegger, responsible for development, technology, and production at EEM AG. He reminds us of this 2000-year old quote by Hippocrates: “That’s where we start.” The young company manufactures various health-promoting products under the “grow concept” brand that enhances well-being and performance at home, in therapy, or at work. In addition to a sound system with soothing music and relaxing, scented aromas, EEM’s flagship product is patented therapeutic chair, which — using an innovative process — relaxes the back within 10–20 minutes.

Special Chairs for Extension Therapy

Designed as intended, visually and haptically flawless: The 3D printed holder for the remote control attached to the grow chair. (Credit: Sintratec)

It’s evident that this is like selling water in the desert. Back pain is one of the most important causes of inability to work. In Germany, for example, nearly one in three adults has back complaints often or constantly. In total, these conditions are responsible for around a quarter of all sick leaves. However, the number of unreported cases is high, and other ailments can also be caused by an unhealthy posture. These may include eye complaints, arthritis, foot pain, or sleeping disorders.

One remedy is the so-called extension therapy, which takes place on specifically developed and automatically adjustable relief chairs. The EEM showroom is in a small village in the canton of Thurgau surrounded by green pastures, old apple trees, and vineyards — a place where you don't exactly think about back pain. Aemisegger explains, “Instead of taking painkillers, the grow chairs tackle the health problem at its roots.”

Daily strain causes our spines to shrink by up to 3 cm in the course of the day, depending on physical activity. The treatment on the grow chair ensures that the spine expands again — with positive side effects that promote the body’s regeneration: The nerves are calmed down and stress is reduced. “It makes a short break feel like a brief holiday,” says Aemisegger. And the feedback he receives is extremely positive: Several hundred grow chairs have already proven themselves in use.

More Than 20 Printed Parts Per Chair

The spinal discs between each vertebra refill with fluid during treatment on the grow chair. (Credit: EEM)

To be able to produce components with any geometry as directly as possible, EEM has been using selective laser sintering (SLS) technology since the development of the three grow chair models began. A total of more than 20 functional objects per relief chair is now produced using the 3D printing process. The chairs are still at an advanced prototype stage.

Cyrill Aemisegger, responsible for development, technology and production at EEM AG: “Thanks to SLS technology, we promptly achieve physical results and can thus accelerate our development processes.” (Credit: Sintratec)

However, in the models produced to date, the 3D printed components do not serve as placeholders for injection-molded parts for the future mass production, but rather are fully functional. They have mostly the same mechanical and visual properties. Combined with the ability to quickly change printed partial geometries, the process is proving to be the most efficient production variant for current small batch production. The company from eastern Switzerland thus manages a balancing act between prototyping and small series production.

In addition to 16 mobile protective covers, the electronic protective socket, the holder for the remote control, and the clever quick-release system for the exchangeable headrest are laser-sintered. (Credit: EEM)

In addition to 16 mobile protective covers, the electronic protective socket, the holder for the remote control, and the clever quick-release system for the exchangeable headrest are laser-sintered. Distinctive: The holder for the remote control is a design element with a modern look and feel that is strongly in the foreground.

FFF and SLA Did Not Meet the Requirements

Aemisegger, a trained polymechanic, is perfectly versed in conventional production methods. Since, for example, he could not find any usable standard parts for the electronic cover, he decided to manufacture certain components himself. He did not consider CNC milling for these special components due to its limited agility. In 2017, he then looked for an efficient solution that would be best suited for manufacturing these parts.

When Aemisegger studied the various 3D printing techniques in more detail, he noticed that he had high demands. For him, fused filament fabrication (FFF) technology (also known as fused deposition modeling or FDM) was out of the question due to the support structures. The development manager says that the post-processing involved would have been too costly. Even the stereolithography (SLA) process did not meet his requirements. This was especially the case because parts printed in this way would not be mechanically stable enough and would have to be reworked at great expense. And because a high-end SLS system is often too expensive for a small business like EEM, he selected a more affordable Sintratec S1.

If Aemisegger had outsourced the aforementioned plastic parts as injection molding orders, production would not only have been much costlier, but also a lot more time-consuming. “Thanks to SLS technology, we achieve immediate results and can thus accelerate our development processes,” he says.

Exemplary Essence of SLS

SLS offers designers and engineers fascinating process-specific possibilities that allow for completely new designs. An example of this is the quick-release system of the headrest, which impresses with its small but subtle ingenuity: The design of the two moveable parts printed inside each other would not be possible with either a conventional manufacturing system or any other affordable 3D printing system. The advantage of this design: With the mounted spring, the locking function is also elegantly provided. “Thanks to SLS technology, we can implement more complex designs and build them precisely for their function,” continues Aemisegger.

The quick release system of the neck support demonstrates the essence of laser sintering: The design of the two moveable parts printed inside each other would not be possible with either a conventional manufacturing system or any other affordable 3D printing process. (Credit: Sintratec)

The use of the Sintratec S1 has had a significant impact on EEM’s engineering. “Since using the Sintratec S1, we have been designing in a much more function-oriented way,” says Aemisegger. “The Sintratec S1 is used day and night in our production, and it is hard to imagine working without it.”

How the Grow Chair Works

The certified grow chair (medical class 1) with replaceable headrest can be easily adapted to the user’s body size. The armrests, armpit supports, and headrest move slowly into the personalized stretching position via remote control. The spinal discs are relieved through the gentle stretching of the spine, and tensions or blockades are released. The pressure on the irritated nerves decreases and surrounding muscles, ligaments, and tendons loosen. The optional heat of the backrest facilitates this effect. That way, the intervertebral discs are given the chance to regenerate after 10–20 minutes.

What does the grow concept comprise? The idea behind the grow concept brand lies in the manifold regeneration of the human body. With the help of a grow chair, binaural beats (grow sound), and an aroma diffuser (grow atmosphere), EEM provides a holistic concept that allows the patient to be immersed in a world of relaxation for 15 minutes or longer, restoring typical performance. It is a type of physiotherapy and deep relaxation at the same time, suitable for private use, therapy, or health management. EEM also offers seminars and courses on the subject of health in its own grow academy.

Whether standing, lying, or sitting, the spinal discs are exposed to a constant pressure load and stress. As a result, they lose fluid and people shrink by up to 3 cm every day. By using the grow chair, this pressure can be reduced completely. This unique method enables regeneration within a very short time.

This article was written by Luca Meister, for Sintratec, Brugg, Switzerland. A video of the technology is available at here . For more information, visit here .