Medical Grade Polymers 2009 - International Conference on Polymer Materials for Medical Devices

Medical Grade Polymers 2009 - International conference on polymer materials & markets for medical devices

23-Apr-09

The medical market for polymers is expanding. With an aging global population the medical device industry is growing and research is advancing at a rapid pace to provide a high quality of life. At the third international conference on Medical Grade Polymers organized by Applied Market Information LLC (September 15-16, 2009, The Hilton, Philadelphia), Len Czuba will outline the current demands and future trends in this industry. With each new development comes the need for material selection and polymers are key, because of their unique blend of chemical resistance and ease of processing. Teleflex Medical is involved in material specification and Medical Murray has expertise in design of permanent implants. Solvay Advanced Polymers is a leading supplier of high performance thermoplastics. Teknor Apex is offering phthalate-free alternative elastomeric materials. Specifications of plastics are included in the pharmacopoeia and will be outlined by Michael Eakins. The IPAC-RS Materials Working Group will outline the challenges and opportunities in orally inhaled and nasal drug products. Baxter Healthcare will look at the use of polymers in container closures. The manufacturing process and requirements for medical devices will be outlined by Resmed and Mack Molding. The complex testing regimes to obtain approval will be discussed at this conference, with a paper from the FDA on premarket pathways, NAMSA on testing protocols, Ciba (with Noveko) on a case study of leaching and migration of antimicrobials from a surgical face mask and Helvoet Pharma on monitoring in manufacturing. Among new developments, Momentive Performance Materials has a new antimicrobial silicone. Further, Cordis is working with supercritical fluid technology for drug-device products. Tissue scaffolding is an area for growth, with new polyurethane from Polymaterials. The Medical College of Wisconsin (Invivosciences) is conducting research on smart polymers. Coatings can improve biocompatibility and Bayer Material Science has hydrophilic materials. Medical Grade Polymers 2009 provides an expert forum for device designers, OEMs, manufacturers, researchers and suppliers to the industry. It is a unique place to hear about the latest technology trends and to debate important issues with top professionals.