PigPug startup: how 3D printing helps children with ADHD

When rolling out a new product in the market, companies should consider every aspect of its manufacture: quality characteristics, production time, payback, and safety. Requirements for medical startups are even more stringent, as patients’ health and well-being depend on them. In this article, we will tell you how one such startup and a partner of Infomir 3D Printing—PigPug—appeared and achieved success.

About PigPug

PigPug is a comprehensive brain training system for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is a neural system developmental disorder. An adult can compare it to the burnout syndrome caused by chronic stress. Ten percent of children suffer from this diagnosis.

PIGPUG neural headset

ADHD is characterized by the following symptoms:

• Persistent lack of attention
• Impulsivity
• Hyperactivity

Neurofeedback therapy is the safest and most efficient way to treat ADHD. PigPug developed a next-generation neurofeedback system. It is powered by biofeedback technology based on electroencephalography (EEG) and artificial intelligence.

How PigPug began

Programmer Vitalii Karpeichyk is PigPug’s founder. In 2017, he decided to create a startup to help children with ADHD. The project’s innovative idea and social focus helped gather a team of qualified medical workers, programmers, designers, engineers, and data scientists.

The specialists had three main objectives:

• Teach children relaxation skills
• Help them learn to focus and shift their attention at will
• Boost their stress resistance and school performance

The team assessed the pros and cons of the existing systems and decided to develop a unique product—the best one in the segment. That was when PigPug was created in 2018.

How it works

Teamwork made it possible to develop the PigPug system that combines artificial intelligence, software, and portable electroencephalographs. The product comprises four parts:

Telemedicine platform. Parents use it to teach their children by themselves and to consult with the EEG biofeedback specialists. As a result, children receive neurofeedback therapy online while their parents save time and money.

AI technology. Artificial intelligence analyzes the brain wave activity, diagnoses the type of behavioral disease, and suggests initial treatment protocols.

Headset. Comfortable and portable electroencephalographs (EEG headsets) for children record the brain’s bioelectrical activity and pass the data to AI.

Applications. Educational games and applications for mobile platforms help children improve their ability to focus. The game process involves neurofeedback methods that help children improve their learning skills.

PigPug comprehensive approach has made ADHD treatment available and comfortable for children and parents. The system’s efficiency was confirmed early in its studies at the proof of concept stage. Forty young children have already completed the basic course with significant results after 5–6 sessions.

3D printing use

The PigPug team regularly works on the project and improves the system. Developing the most comfortable EEG headset is among the priority tasks. Since their users are active children, the case must be light, durable, pleasant to the touch, and made of a biocompatible material.

The team needed functional prototypes for testing during the headset development. So the startup ordered their printing from Infomir 3D Printing on an HP Jet Fusion 5210 industrial printing line.

The MJF powder printing technology provided the necessary physical characteristics and a high level of detail. The result was smooth, durable printed models with no rough texture, ready to use without additional processing. In this way, the PigPug team managed to test the design and features of the headset quickly and cost-efficiently.

We plan to grow while developing and releasing new products.

Infomir 3D Printing helped our company reduce production costs and manufacture test prototypes much faster. We are happy with the outcome of this cooperation and recommend Infomir 3D Printing as a reliable and professional partner.

Andrii Plichko, Co-founder of PigPug, neurofeedback expert

Vitalii Karpeichyk, Founder and CEO of PigPug, startup industry and iOS development expert

With the 3D printing services provided by Infomir, the PigPug team has a steady supply of parts and prototypes for its project. If necessary, making changes to the existing 3D models and printing new products will take no more than a week. This helps the company develop fast and ensures children with ADHD can continuously enjoy qualified care.