Medical Grade Polymers 2007

September 12-13, 2007

The Hilton City Avenue, Philadelphia, United States.

Medical Grade Polymers 2007 offers the medical device industry the opportunity to debate the current technology and market trends. Experts are on hand to give advice on the latest materials and business opportunities in this high value, high technology zone. Applied Market Information LLC has announced the program for the international conference on Medical Grade Polymers to be held September 12-13, 2007 at The Hilton City Avenue, Philadelphia, United States.

This is an innovative international conference directed at the needs of the medical device manufacturing industry. It brings together experts in polymer materials to assist in material selection for the latest developments in medical technology. This is a high value market for plastics processors and it is also a demanding and heavily regulated business to work in. The conference provides the opportunity for participants in the market to get together and discuss the latest technology and applications of Medical Grade Polymers.

There is a wide range of speakers covering all aspects of the use of polymer materials in the medical device industry from the intense biocompatibility testing, chemical resistance and impact performance to bonding properties and sterilizability.

GE Plastics is kicking off the conference with a review of trends in the healthcare markets. Solvay Advanced Polymers will then highlight the use of high performance plastics to replace some metal components. Bayer Material Science has looked at ways of keeping costs down for molders and the Mack Molding Company will be highlighting material selection factors in terms of mold design.

The paper by Dr George Mattamal of the FDA will give an overview of the regulations for medical devices and polymer approvals in the US, including an example of the uses of cyanoacrylate adhesives. Materials used in assembling devices are equally regulated - Adhesives Research is presenting information on pressure sensitive adhesives, with Dymax on UV curable adhesives. Processing in clean room conditions will be discussed by JOA and Netstal.

Elastomers are in use in a wide range of medical devices from catheters to soft touch components and seals. Dow Corning is presenting information on silicone materials, with Saint-Gobain on medical uses of thermoplastic elastomers and RTP on the effects of gamma-sterilization.

There are new materials being presented at the conference - the issue is not just making new polymers but testing the biocompatibility and properties to the appropriate international standards. BASF has carried out this work with new transparent grades of ABS. Dr Bonten will also discuss how plastics suppliers can support OEMs by keeping the composition constant and ensuring high levels of quality control on the upstream suppliers of raw materials. DSM Dyneema has researched biocompatible UHMWPE fiber. Tyrx Pharma has a new bioresorbable polymer for combination drug-device products. Bio-Gate has silver-based antimicrobial compounds to assist in the constant fight against infection.

Arkema has developed some new polymer alloys for use in transparent medical applications such as catheters, blood pumps and dialysis units. It also has a new acrylic resin combining clarity with flexibility similar to PVC. Cyro Industries (Degussa) has looked at optimizing the performance of acrylics for diagnostic devices.

Medical devices often utilize electronic and electrical components, for example, pacemakers and the new human ‘chips’. Parylene from Specialty Coating Systems is used to protect sensitive components from body fluids. Calmont Wire & Cable will outline the use of long-term implantable leads.

Medical Grade Polymers 2007
International business conference on materials and markets for medical devices
12-13 September 2007, The Hilton City Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Organized by Applied Market Information LLC (AMI)