A CHESTER business which is looking for support from the public will look to reciprocate that with its pioneering range of 3D-printed insoles.

Cadscan has launched a crowdfunding campaign with a £50,000 target to help it roll out its pressure-reducing personalised insoles to the mass market.

The firm has developed a factory of specialist 3D printing machines which can create insoles with optimised cushioning.

Unlike foam insoles, their custom-made insoles do not compress or harden over time, providing effective pressure reduction for longer.

Each pair of its Imprints insoles are made of a lattice of different densities matched to the patient’s foot shape, loading profile and peak pressure zones.

Cadscan, whose sister products are already used extensively across the NHS, is running its campaign on Indiegogo, a launchpad for entrepreneurial ideas. Everyone who pledges £40 will receive a bespoke pair of insoles.

Dr Alastair Buchanan, managing director of Cadscan, said: “3D printing is creating a new generation of insoles and, using our advanced software and patent pending algorithms, we have the technology to map the nuances of a person’s foot and translate that into the perfect insoles for them.

“All customers have to do is complete a simple foot test at home which identifies the load zones on their feet as well as giving information about their foot shape.

"They then take a couple of photographs of their feet and then upload this information using our smartphone app.

“We use a computer model that identifies the properties of that individual’s sole and insole and produce a precise 3D printable design which we then ship direct to the customer.

“We then create a pair of bespoke Imprints insoles to their exact specification and which will help to both reduce the pressure on their feet and redistribute the load.

"It will be the first time that customers can buy such a professional insole for such great value.”

Cadscan has been working with podiatry expert Professor Nachiappan Chockalingam, professor of clinical biomechanics at the Faculty of Health Sciences at Staffordshire University, on the 3D technology.

Cadscan has been creating new 3D scanning, printing and visualisation technologies for the last eight years.

Its main focus has been the healthcare sector, with a focus on orthoses, medical imaging for wound management and several VR/AR applications.

It has a 12-strong team which includes software developers, product designers and manufacturing.

The company also works closely with a number of academic institutions, in particular the biomechanics team at Staffordshire University, to provide specific expertise.

  • For more information about the crowdfunder, visit www.indiegogo.com/projects/imprints-personalised-3d-printed-insoles#/