Micron-Level Precision

Choice and MeKo® turn complex micro-engineering concepts into manufacturable solutions for next-generation women’s health devices
Sarstedt, September 10, 2026
Developing functional medical devices at just a few millimeters in size requires more than revolutionary ideas. It demands deep material expertise, precise manufacturing, and a partner capable of translating concepts into reliable and scalable products.
Dutch MedTech company Choice is developing a novel micro-mechanical contraceptive implant designed for placement inside the fallopian tube. The device is based on a miniature valve mechanism that can be opened or closed to either allow or prevent pregnancy. Implanted via a minimally invasive procedure, it is intended to provide controlled functionality within a highly confined anatomical environment while remaining reversible.
The approach reflects ongoing efforts to expand the range of options in a field that has seen limited innovation in recent decades, while maintaining a strong focus on safety and control.
At just 1.6 mm in diameter, the system operates at the limits of what is technically feasible. Within this extremely small space, multiple components must interact with high precision, including a stent-like housing, an integrated spring mechanism, and a fixed valve element. The design ensures controlled positioning and reliable function while maintaining compatibility with sensitive biological structures. To realize this level of miniaturization and functional integration, Choice partnered with MeKo®.
Engineering at the Limits of Scale
Nitinol is widely used in minimally invasive medical devices due to its biocompatibility, shape memory and superelastic properties, but these same characteristics require highly controlled processing.
In close collaboration with Choice, MeKo® contributes decades of expertise in laser cutting, shape setting, electropolishing, and laser micro-welding. Capabilities that are essential to achieve the required geometry, surface quality, and mechanical behavior – especially in sensitive environments such as the fallopian tube, where even minimal deviations affect performance and overall device safety.
Particularly critical is the interaction between the spring and stent structure, which must be joined with micrometer precision while maintaining full functionality. At the same time, ultra-smooth surfaces are required to ensure safe contact with delicate tissue.
From Concept to Manufacturable Reality
To translate the concept into a viable product, Choice brought MeKo® on board early in development. Beyond manufacturing, MeKo® provides design feedback and manufacturability expertise in the prototype stage, helping to identify potential challenges and establish robust, scalable processes.
“Without MeKo®, we would not have been able to achieve this level of miniaturization,” says Peter van de Graaf, Founder and CEO of Choice. “Their expertise and technology make this kind of precision engineering possible. Their input has been essential in ensuring that this birth control device is safe, reliable, and manufacturable.”
This collaboration demonstrates how novel device concepts can be translated into manufacturable solutions. By combining innovative concepts with advanced manufacturing expertise, Choice and MeKo® are enabling the development of highly miniaturized devices for sensitive and demanding applications.
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