I recently made the rounds at MD&M Minneapolis—a show that I especially enjoy because of its smaller, more intimate nature. Below I have included a few highlights from the show.
-Shana Leonard, Editor, MPMN
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Did you know that St Louis is a hotbed for medical technology? Representatives from the St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association manned a booth at MD&M Minneapolis and were full of information about the area's role in the manufacture of surgical instruments and its support for start-up medtech companies. Reps from economic development groups in South Dakota , Minneapolis , West Michigan, and Wisconsin also had booths at the show. And they all had a lot of interesting things to say about the medtech presence in their respective regions. Learn more about the medtech industry in these areas and what's driving growth in MPMN 's new digital product, Regional Roundup, launching in November.
Industry expert Mark Saab, president of Advanced Polymers Inc. (Salem, NH) was able to make a little time for an impromptu exchange with MPMN. He noted that, in addition to smaller sizes and tighter tolerances, medical tubing suppliers are changing their internal operations to accommodate OEMs' requests for increased testing and process control. To view the complete Q&A with Mark Saab and learn what tubing suppliers are doing to better serve you, click here.
Summer Sivas, technical specialist at Nusil (Carpinteria, CA), was thrilled to get the word out on multiple pieces of company news. The silicone provider has introduced the MED1-4213, MED2-4213, and MED3-4213 series of two-part, fast-cure, high-tear-strength silicone adhesives for implantable applications. In addition, Nusil has partnered with Ciba (Tarrytown, NY), a provider of antimicrobial products, to provide antimicrobial solutions for silicone-based medical products.
A lunchtime panel discussion on Wednesday about combination products sponsored by our sister publication, MD&DI, proved to be quite interesting, as speakers identified the major challenges associated with getting a combination product to market. As the conversation turned to stents, speaker Thomas Gunderson, senior research analyst for Piper Jaffray, relayed some interesting information. He said that at a recent conference he had heard that in Europe there are 22 approved drug-coated stents on the market right now, including the four that are approved for use here in the United States . However, the four FDA-approved devices have managed to accrue the lion's share of the European stent market, while the remaining 18 stents battle for less than 10% of the remaining market.
Kimberly-Clark Corp. (Neenah, WI) introduced a new line of cleanroom apparel, Kimtech Pure with Clean-Don technology. In order to develop this product, representatives from the company went out into the field to solicit recommendations and to identify problems with current cleanroom garments. As a result, the company has developed apparel that is easy to put on while minimizing the opportunity for contamination. Use of a breathable material and fitted style promote user comfort while working.
I stopped by the booth of Ethox International (Buffalo, NY) and chatted with Richard Malo, vice president, contract sales, about the company. Specializing in disposable devices, the manufacturer provides design, development, manufacturing, and sterilization services. Manufacturing capabilities include welding, injection molding, tube and catheter manufacturing, sheet and film processing, component assembly, and bag fabrication. And if that wasn't enough, Ethox also operates fully compliant FDA- and ISO-registered microbiology and chemistry laboratories. As Malo, said, “We offer it all.”
Primarily serving the orthopedics industry, as the name suggests, Orchid Orthopedic Solutions (Holt, MI) consists of 10 divisions specializing in design, forging, machining, plastics, and coatings. Typical applications include implants, instruments, and technologies for reconstruction, trauma, spine, sports medicine, orthobiologics, extremities, dental, and medical devices.
Omnetics (Minneapolis) has launched a circular nanoconnector that is available with custom overmolding. Suited for harsh operating environments, the series represents one of the smallest connector families of its type on the market with its 0.025-in. pitch, according to the supplier.
