Prototyping and additive manufacturing technologies are an integral part of the design and development of medical devices, improving product development time, saving costs, and increasing quality. With so many different techniques available, it is essential to sort it all out and find the right technique for the application. Medical Design has launched the first Medical Prototyping Conference (MPC), which will be held in Minneapolis September 7–8, 2011, at the Depot Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel. Modeled after our successful two-day Medical Silicone Conference events, MPC will feature presentations by leading industry experts on all areas of prototyping, including stereolithography, selective laser sintering, 3D printing, rapid injection molding, and other topics specific to medical device OEMs. A keynote session will address the significance of prototyping in the medical device industry, particularly in light of market forces. Unlike other prototyping conferences, the Medical Prototyping Conference will focus exclusively on using these methods in the medical device industry.

"All manufacturing sectors utilize prototype technology as they bring new products to market, but the medical device industry is unique in its reliance on FDA approval before going to market with production volume manufacturing," says Publisher Bill Rodman. "Prototyping technologies have advanced briskly in the past decade, and the number of options for ‘fast, low-volume, functional parts’ has ballooned. Staying on top of new technologies while leveraging the tried-and-true processes has never been more important."

The following pages contain important information on the session topics, speakers, and sponsors. These sessions provide a targeted opportunity to learn of the latest advances and techniques. To register, go to www.medprotoconference.com. The Web site also provides details on the schedule of events, exhibits, and special pricing for medical device OEMs.

SCHEDULE AT-A-GLANCE

Wednesday, September 7, 2011
9:00am – Registration/Exhibits Open/Breakfast
10:00am – Opening Remarks / Welcome - Bill Rodman, Publisher, Medical Design magazine
10:15am – Effective Applications of Additive Manufacturing in Medical Treatment - Tom Mueller, Director, Business Development 3D Systems
11:15am – Break/Exhibits Open
11:30am – Stereolithography (SLA) to Reduce Product Development Time - Rob Connelly, President, FineLine Prototyping
12:30pm – Lunch/Exhibits Open
1:45pm – Patient-Specific Treatments through Selective Laser Sintered Surgical Guides - Colleen Wivell, Director, Materialise USA
2:45pm – Break/Exhibits Open
3:00pm – Dual Material Rapid Prototyping in the Medical Industry - Bruce Bradshaw, Director of Marketing, Objet, and Dan Mishek, Managing Director, Vista Technologies
4:00pm – Break/Exhibits Open
4:15pm – KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: Quick and Dirty Prototyping - William K. Durfee, Professor and Director of Design Education, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota
5:15pm – Cocktail Reception

Thursday, September 8, 2011
8:00am – Registration/Exhibits Open/Breakfast
9:00am – Additive Manufacturing 101: How the Future of Medical Product Development and Manufacturing Is Changing - Fred Fischer, Business Development Director, Stratasys Inc
10:00am – Break/Exhibits Open
10:15am – Real Prototypes: Why Settle for Anything Less in Medical Applications? - Brad Cleveland, President and CEO, Protomold/Protolabs
11:30am – Additive Manufacturing of Medical Devices – Innovation-Driven Design and Manufacturing - Martin Bullemer, Business Development Manager Medical, EOS
12:30pm – Lunch-To-Go/Exhibits Open

GENERAL SESSIONS: Day 1

Effective Applications of Additive Manufacturing in Medical Treatment
Tom Mueller, Director, Business Development 3D Systems, Vernon Hills, IL
In the less than 25 years since the first additive manufacturing (then called rapid prototyping) systems were introduced, AM technologies have had a dramatic impact in a wide range of medical applications. The ability to customize devices and treatments to individual patients has improved the effectiveness of treatment and reduced patient trauma. While most current applications use AM technologies in an indirect manner, direct applications will increase as materials and processes improve. This presentation will look at several examples of the effective use of AM in medicine.

Stereolithography (SLA) to Reduce Product Development Time
Rob Connelly, President, FineLine Prototyping, Raleigh, NC
The many possible uses of stereolithography for medical applications have proven effective for reducing product development time, saving costs, and increasing quality. Some applications just are not possible without the use of additive manufacturing. This presentation will give you the tools you need to see where and why those applications exist.

Patient-Specific Treatments through Selective Laser Sintered Surgical Guides
Colleen Wivell, Director, Materialise USA, Plymouth, MI
Every year in the United States alone, more than 300,000 knee replacements are performed and the number is increasing. Patient-specific surgical guides are now being manufactured using the latest selective laser sintering technologies. The purpose of a surgical guide is to reduce the cost and complexity of a procedure. Their use may result in fewer surgical instruments to sterilize, decreased OR time, faster patient recovery, and increased longevity of the implant. In addition, the surgeon is able to try different approaches before operating and can avoid having to make critical decisions on the spot. Understand the process of creating guides and learn how the production process is planned, controlled, and tracked by Magics e-RP software.