Kicmed Uses 3D Printing to Develop Innovative Cryotherapy Device

The medical industry in France continues to surprise with innovations that improve patient care, enhance comfort, and simplify clinicians’ daily work. One of the latest breakthroughs is Kicmed, a startup from the Nantes region that has developed a cryotherapy medical device that integrates additive manufacturing. The device operates in part thanks to a 3D-printed silicone sleeve. Cryotherapy uses controlled cold exposure on a painful or injured area—or the whole body—to support healing through anti-inflammatory, anti-edema, and analgesic effects. We spoke with the Kicmed team to learn how their device works and how 3D technologies influenced its development.

3DN: Can you introduce Kicmed?

Kicmed is a Nantes-based startup developing a cryotherapy device with intermittent compression for therapeutic use. The founding team of seven partners brings complementary expertise spanning healthcare, industrial engineering, quality assurance, and risk management. Kicmed designs and manufactures both the cooling module and the silicone sleeve in-house. The product is entirely made in France and complies with European health and environmental standards. Additive manufacturing is used specifically to produce the silicone sleeve, enabling complex geometries and tailored properties that would be difficult to achieve with conventional methods.

3DN: How did Kicmed get started?

Kicmed originated from a collaboration between a hospital director, an engineer, and a surgeon. The surgeon was already using cryotherapy to improve postoperative comfort, reduce analgesic consumption, and speed recovery thanks to the treatment’s anti-edematous, anti-inflammatory, and pain-relieving effects. Existing solutions were often cumbersome and relied on ice packs, which provide uncontrolled temperatures and carry a risk of burns. The team sought to combine controlled cooling with intermittent compression to enhance blood flow and improve outcomes. From that initial idea, the project evolved into a formal development effort to produce a safer, more ergonomic medical device.

3DN: How do you use additive manufacturing? What processes and materials are employed?

Kicmed applies additive manufacturing by translating mathematical design formulas into digital files that drive the printing of the silicone sleeve. The sleeve is specially engineered to circulate cooled fluid supplied by the cooling module, combining precise temperature control with the mechanical benefits of intermittent compression. Using 3D printing for silicone enables customized geometries that conform to anatomical shapes and optimize fluid pathways for efficient heat exchange, while maintaining patient comfort and safety.

3DN: Why did Kicmed choose 3D printing?

3D printing was chosen because it represents a major advance in medical device design and manufacturing. Additive manufacturing expands the range of possible shapes, internal structures, and tailored properties, making it easier to create sleeves and interfaces better adapted to specific patient needs and types of surgery. The flexibility of the technology supports iterative design, rapid prototyping, and the ability to produce small series or customized components without extensive tooling.

3DN: What are the next steps?

Kicmed plans to commercialize the KicBoxOne during 2025 and to address a range of clinical and rehabilitation needs. The primary objectives include optimizing postoperative care, improving patient comfort in rehabilitation centers and physiotherapy clinics, and supporting sports medicine facilities where controlled cryotherapy combined with compression can enhance recovery after injury or intensive exercise. The team is focused on regulatory compliance, production scale-up, and working with clinical partners to integrate the device into standard care pathways.

3DN: Any final words for our readers?

You can follow Kicmed’s updates on their LinkedIn page to stay informed about product milestones and clinical developments. The team welcomes feedback and professional interest from clinicians, physiotherapists, and sports medicine specialists looking for advanced cryotherapy solutions.

What do you think of Kicmed and its cryotherapy system? Share your thoughts in the article’s comments. If you follow developments in medical and dental 3D printing, continue exploring related content on specialty sites and professional channels. Social media pages and professional groups also provide ongoing news and community discussion about additive manufacturing in healthcare.

Cover photo credit: Terre de Mars

The post Kicmed Uses 3D Printing to Develop Innovative Cryotherapy Device first appeared on 3dcatia.