3DMYMASK Wins the Formnext “Rookie Award” recognizing its pioneering contribution to improving the quality of life of premature infants through personalized medical devices produced with advanced additive manufacturing.

The project developed and led by Dr. Cristina Borrás and Dr. Oscar García from the Neonatology unit of the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona and David Adrover and Adrià Portero leading Digifab, the Additive Manufacturing group of the Societat Catalana de Tecnologia, the project stems from a critical clinical challenge: premature babies often rely on non-invasive ventilation systems that use nasal interfaces available only in four universal sizes.

The problem:

They rarely fit. They leak. They force clinicians to tighten straps so hard they often cause skin ulcers, tissue damage and even cranial deformities in the most fragile patients.

The solution:

Fully personalized 3D-printed nasal masks that match each baby’s unique anatomy.

The results:

• Air leakages reduction by a 60%.
• Drastical pressure reduction of the nasal interface around babies noses: less pain, fewer long-term risks.
• Up to 70% fewer ulcers, cranial deformations and other side complications.
• A massive leap forward in neonatal comfort and safety.

A Model of Clinical–Technological Collaboration

The success of 3DMYMASK is the result of a unique collaboration between clinical expertise, engineering innovation and advanced digital manufacturing.

The Hospital Clínic de Barcelona has driven the medical leadership, defining the clinical requirements and validating the prototypes. Digifab has designed and optimized the additive manufacturing workflow, ensuring that each step—from scanning to printing— meets medical and industrial standards.

A strong network of technology partners from the IAM3DHUB ecosystem, operated and
managed by Leitat, has been instrumental:

• Shining3D provided the 3D scanning technology required to accurately capture each infant’s facial geometry.
• Elkem Silicones enabled the first proof-of-concept additive manufacturing tests and supplied the medical-grade silicone materials used to produce the first functional prototypes.
• Lynxter is partnering to industrialize the solution using their Silicone 3D technology with high precision and reliability.
• 3Deus Dynamics is currently being explored as the industrial partner to bring the solution into scalable, reliable clinically certified production.

Together, these organizations have transformed a pressing clinical challenge into a high-impact, manufacturable medical device—one that could redefine the standard of care for premature infants worldwide.

A recognition that accelerates the path forward

Receiving the Formnext Rookie Award is a milestone that reinforces the clinical relevance, technological maturity and global potential of 3DMYMASK. This recognition will accelerate the next stages of development, including extended clinical trials, regulatory pathways and industrialization efforts.

The project team expresses its gratitude to Formnext and to all partners who have contributed to making this innovation possible.