The presciption for success
August 1st 2009

The line-up of over 100 exhibitors at this year's MEDTEC Ireland Conference & Expo (Galway,September 23 & 24) has an array of products and manufacturing techniques along side a full conference programme and technical innovation forum

The displays on the MEDTEC Ireland show floor will provide visitors with insights to, and demonstrations of, a comprehensive range of world-class products and services. This event provides the opportunity for Ireland's medical device manufacturing industry to purchase capital equipment, order custom components, specify subassemblies and tap into the creative know-how of the world's leading suppliers.

Some of the areas covered by the exhibition include: Packaging equipment, materials and services; Contract manufacturing/subcontracting; Testing and inspection equipment; Raw materials; Assembly, automation and manufacturing equipment; Design engineering and R&D services; Regulatory consulting; and Electronics.

Medical device manufacturing professionals who want to know about relevant Government funding strategies for R & D, venture capital funding, regulatory frameworks and next generation technology trends should make this year's MEDTEC Ireland Conference. Chaired over the two days by AbNovo's Mika Reinikainen (Day One) and on Day Two by Professor John H Linehan – Professor of Bioengineering, McCormick School of Engineering & Applied Science and Consulting Professor of Bioengineering, Department of Bioengineering & the Biodesign Program, Stanford University, among other positions held – the Conference schedule also features a 'Road Map' that will guide delegates in the development of medical devices and diagnostics – where the aim is to enlighten delegates about the realities and opportunities presented by the commercialisation of diagnostic and therapeutic devices – and a choice of four day-long workshops offering insights into: Process validation – solutions and strategies – validation requirements, sampling plans and validation change control; Managing challenges in the supply chain – supplier controls, purchasing controls, managing the supply chain, and risk in the supply chain; Quality systems – building a system that balances business and compliance; and Testing for increased reliability throughout product life cycle.

In addition to the chairmen, some of the some of the biggest names in the medical device sector will be taking to the stage and presenting invaluable knowledge streams which delegates can tap into. For example, Dr Ruth Freeman from the Science Foundation Ireland and Colm Reilly of PA Consulting, will be presenting their thoughts on the best ways to secure R & D funding; and Seamus O'Hara of Seroba Kernel Life Sciences and Dr Joe Mason from Delta Partners, will look at venture capital funding.

Sharon Frank from Johnson & Johnson company, Cordis, will discuss a Regulatory Framework for Medical Devices and, interestingly, Strategies for Managing Intellectual Property Rights will be covered by Noel Akers from European patent and trade mark specialists, N J Akers & Co.

The 'road map of medical device innovations' sessions will be broached by Novate Medical's Gordon Crowley, Teleflex Medical's Gary Fahey, Gambro Dialysatoren's Michael Schaefer, GxP Systems' Lorraine Corcoran and Stephen McCabe, and Aerogen's Brendan Hogan – and a selection of these experts will also be presenting the workshop sessions alongside Avarent's Thomas Dzierozynski and Georgia Tech Ireland's Dr Finbar Dolan.

Technical innovation forum A Technical Innovation Forum to provide medical professionals with insights into current research activity at Ireland's universities is being run at the MEDTEC event. A daily programme of complimentary 30-minute sessions (from 10.00 hrs to 15.30 hrs) will showcase examples of available research and testing facilities – from preclinical testing and materials analysis to the latest advances in cardiovascular and orthopaedic research.

Topics already on the agenda include: Cardiovascular solutions – stents, catheters, introducers, extrusion services and drug eluting stent devices; Orthopaedic implants – ceramic coating processing techniques, CNC machining, biomaterials selection, product design and pre-clinical studies; Device analysis – design, biomaterials selection and research, pre-clinical studies, research and testing facilities, materials analysis and rapid prototyping.

Visit www.medtecireland.com for full conference, technical innovation forum and exhibition details.

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