Are you validating your design… or just the tool’s compatibility?

Medtech teams are working with some of the most advanced substrates in existence—stretchable polymers, biocompatible films, silk fibroin, and layered microfluidic stacks. But most are still testing on flat, rigid proxies that don’t reflect the final product environment.

That’s not validation. That’s wishful thinking.

Why Testing on a Proxy Substrate Puts You at Risk

Every time you test on a stand-in—glass instead of TPU, FR4 instead of PDMS—you’re making an assumption. One that can break later.

Here’s what it costs:

• Signal behavior changes on flexible substrates
  
• Bonding integrity doesn’t translate
  
• Fluidic flow behaves differently in curved geometries
  

You’re not just testing the wrong thing. You’re getting the wrong answer.

The Tools Aren’t Catching Up Fast Enough

Traditional tools weren’t built for this new class of materials:

• Inkjet printers misfire on curved or soft surfaces
  
• Fabs are optimized for planar substrates
  
• Mask-based workflows can’t adapt to organic layouts
  

So even if your idea is brilliant… your validation stack isn’t ready for it.

Agile Printing Changes What You Can Validate—And When

This is where new platforms shine:

• Hummink: Capillary microprinting that adapts to flexible, stretchable, and curved substrates—enabling real-world biosensor and electrode testing
  
• Optomec: Aerosol-jet systems that print multi-layer traces on 3D geometries, supporting smart bandage and implantable use cases
  
• Dimatix: Piezo inkjet solutions for broader, planar film applications
  
• SFA: Provides scale-up and GMP integration of these tools for regulated device development
  

With these systems, you don’t have to wait to test on your final substrate. You can start with it.

Why This Shift Matters for Product Success

• You confirm viability before spending on clinical-grade tooling
  
• You design around biology, not around equipment constraints
  
• You reduce the chance of late-stage surprises
  

It’s not just about material compatibility. It’s about getting real signal, real feedback, and real confidence—early.

Start Testing Where It Actually Matters

If you’re still testing your next-gen device on legacy materials, you’re validating a version of your product that will never ship.

But if you start printing and measuring on the real thing, your decisions will be grounded in reality… not assumptions.

And in a field where failure can mean delayed trials, missed funding, or even clinical risk, that kind of certainty is invaluable.