5 Things You Must See at BIOMEDevice Boston5 Things You Must See at BIOMEDevice Boston

From channeling the creativity needed to design next-generation medical devices to unlocking the secrets of 3-D printing, there is plenty to check out at this year's BIOMEDevice Boston. The conference and exposition runs Wednesday, March 26, to Thursday, March 27, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.

Go to the BIOMEDevice Boston website--http://biomedevice.mddionline.com--to find out more about the event and register.

There will be 12 Learning Labs--2-hour essential technical trainings devoted to identifying, exploring, testing and delivering practical solutions, as well as 10 educational sessions at the Tech Theater on the show floor. (All Tech Theater sessions are complementary on the show floor; no RSVP required)

Here are some BIOMEDevice Boston highlights:

1. Designing Next-Gen Medical Devices--March 26, 9-11 a.m.

This Learning Lab is meant to provide attendees with concrete methods and tools they can use to shake off their normal patterns of thinking when designing medical devices. This is about breaking through to creativity when it comes to medical device design. The workshop, led by Dan Stipe and David Chapin of Forma Medical Device Design (Raleigh, NC), will explore the characteristics of creative thinkers and why it's hard for most people to think creatively. Most importantly, it will provide examples of strategies attendees can use to tap into their own innate creativity and solve the complex problems they face. The workshop includes exercises that will give attendees practice in thinking creatively.

2. Advanced Applications of Sensors in Medical Devices--March 26, 9-11 a.m.

This Learning Lab includes Michael O'Neil, principal engineer for new technologies at DePuy Synthes, discussing utilizing new sensor technologies for implantable medical devices. David Gracias, assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University, will deliver a talk on curved and folded bio-MEMs for drug delivery and surgery.

3. Integrating Mobile and Medical Technologies--March 26, 11-11:30 a.m.

People might call it by different names: mobile health, telehealth, connected health, or iHealth. But the trend of gathering health information from people on the go--with the information analyzed and shared with health providers--appears to be a topic that is much talked about. Hear Bill Betten, vice president of business solutions at Logic PD, discuss integration of mobile and medical technologies at the Tech Theater on Wednesday, March 26, at 11 a.m. The following day, Thursday, March 27, there will be a Learning Lab on wireless health technologies from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

4. Unlock 3-D Printing Secrets--March 26, 1-4:30 p.m.

3-D printing is another super-hot discussion top in medtech circles. See Gil Robinson of Stratasys deliver the talk, "3-D Printing Revolution," at the Tech Theater from 1 to 1:30 p.m. on March 26. Then check out the 3-D printing Learning Lab from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. the same day. At the Learning Lab, Ankur Chandra, MD, professor of surgery at the University of Rochester, will present a case study about highly accurate prototyping for medical 3-D printing. Anthony Vicari, research associate at Lux Research, will discuss advanced applications of 3-D printing, from inoperative to functional prototyping. And Allan Cronen, president and CEO of GVL Poly, will explore new materials in 3-D printing.

5. MedTech and Public Policy--March 27, 12:40-1:10 p.m.

It pretty much goes without saying that the medical device industry in the United States is both heavily regulated and heavily taxed. Listen to Tom Sommer, president of MassMEDIC, as he discusses public policy's impact on the medtech sector during a talk in the Tech Theater.