Medical Design's first-ever Medical Prototyping Conference (MPC) is fast approaching, and if you have anything at all to do with the design and development of medical devices you and your colleagues really need to make plans to be in Minneapolis September 7-8.

Whether you refer to the processes and technologies involved as rapid prototyping (RP) or additive manufacturing (AM), medical's reliance on advanced prototyping technologies is unlike that of any other manufacturing sector because of the steps involved with gaining FDA approval before going to market with a new device or piece of equipment as well as the need to be first with product advancements.  

According to Quickparts' Brian Ford in a May 2010 Medical Design article, the devices and equipment designed using advanced prototyping technologies, include: catheters, stents, syringes, retractors, surgical fastener, MRI machines, hospital beds, hand-held testing and display devices, and fluid collection and testing equipment. Further, prototypes of anatomical parts are helping doctors to better understand different surgical approaches. Material advances, specifically for medical devices, include nylon-based materials used in SLS and PC-ISO used in FDM processing.  Other processes include SLA, 3D printing, and rapid injection molding. 

MPC speakers will define the many prototyping processes and materials while explaining the benefits and advantages of what's available. Keynoter William Durfee, Professor and Director of Design Education, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, will show why prototyping needs to be at the front end of the product development process and how you can be effective in helping to establish within your company a culture of innovation that relies on inexpensive and fast prototyping methods.

Other MPC speakers represent the following leading prototyping technology companies: 3D Systems, Rock Hill, SC; Fineline Prototyping, Raleigh, NC; Materialise USA, Plymouth, MI; Objet Geometries, Billerica, MA;  Vista Technologies,Vadnais Heights, MN; Stratasys Inc, Eden Prairie, MN; Protomold /Protolabs, Maple Plain, MN ; and EOS GmbH, Munich, Germany.  The speaker program promises to be an effective blend of practical how-to information, real-world applications, and the role advance prototyping will play in the future as our industry evolves. All exhibits, breaks, and lunches will be in the same room as the speaker presentations, giving attendees ample time to meet with MPC sponsors/exhibitors.  More on MPC can be found in the Preview on page 31 of this issue as well as at medprotoconference.com.

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Medical Design is also a proud media sponsor of AdvaMed 2011 (see ad on page 13), the fifth annual MedTech Conference, which is expected to attract more than 1,700 medtech attendees from around the world. This technology and diagnostics conference will be held September 26-28 in Washington and will feature President George W. Bush and Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels as breakfast and lunch speakers. Indiana's medtech community includes manufacturers such as Zimmer and DePuy Orthopaedics. Nationally, medtech supports 2 million jobs, accounts for $24.6 billion in US payroll, and is responsible for generating $33 billion in annual exports.

President Bush and Governor Daniels will be part of an event that will feature about 40 educational panels, 60 company presentations, funding forums, the "CEOs Unplugged" Series, Sector MeetUps, partnering meetings, and other networking events. The exhibit hall and Innovation Alley will provide attendees with opportunities to view and discuss new technologies, advanced materials, and component and equipment innovations.

More on AdvaMed can be found at AdvaMed2011.com, where you can register.

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If you're wondering if you can afford to spend the time attending MPC and AdvaMed 2011, perhaps the real question is, can you afford not to?

See you in Minneapolis and DC.