Following Kai Melde's thesis on bioassembly using ultrasonic waves, he set out to develop this technique as an alternative to slow 3D bioprinting. Holocell can assemble cell cultures in any complex shape: Three orthogonal inducers create interfering pressure patterns in a small vial. This traps the cells in a pre‑computed form and is then fixed in position using UV light.

The product is designed for a lab envoronment. It had to be small enough to fit inside a sterile cabinet, which lead to the decision to split the device into two modules: the prism and the generator.