Powder Technology in the Medical Device Industry -
A PowdermatriX/MediTech Joint Meeting

Meeting held Thursday 29th June 2006

The market for medical devices is large and expanding. Many devices, such as orthodontic brackets, needle carriers for suturing, biopsy jaws and ceramic dental parts, start life as powders. Moreover current research work, such as the use of nano powders in cements, is leading to new and exciting innovations.

This one day seminar looked at some current powder technology applications and possible future ones. Well qualified speakers introduced existing and new techniques and applications involving powders in healthcare, including:

• Advanced PVD coatings for current and future medical applications
  Kevin Cooke of Teer Coatings Ltd explained what PVD coatings are and how they are used in medical devices (prostheses, stents, etc.), including nanostructured thin film coatings for the reduction of friction and wear, enhanced biocompatibility, potential regenerative medicine applications, etc.



• Metal Injection Moulding - How to make intricate, complex, accurate, strong medical device components by this emerging process
  A general introduction to this flourishing technology, plus case studies of medical devices made by it, was given by Phil Marsh of Egide UK Ltd.



• Current progress in research and production of Selective Laser Melting of Titanium
  MCP Group showed how the process builds complex, pure titanium implants and components "while you wait" using CT, MRI or CAD data files.



• Pharmaceutical spray drying - recent advances
  Upperton Limited, Richard Johnson, shared recent experience in the use of spray drying to produce diagnostic and therapeutic agents.



• Ceramic and metal powder based materials processing for dental, orthopaedic and tissue engineering applications
  An overview of this vital area of healthcare science was given by Bo Su of the Department of Oral & Dental Science, Bristol Dental Hospital & School.

Other short presentations on a variety of topics were included.

The meeting was jointly organised with MediTech (http://meditech.cardiff.ac.uk/); a large biomedical research and collaboration network, linking together industries, academics and clinicians in the areas of biomechanics, biomaterials and biomedical engineering.

As the meeting so effectively brought together the research and foresight of academia with the need for clinicians and manufacturers to innovate, further events to enhance the dialogue are being planned. If you would like meeting details when available contact ann.barratt@ceram.com.

To discuss this meeting and PowdermatriX’s work contact bob.blake@ceram.com.