Updated on 11/6 at 11:00 A.M.
We're back from the show after a successful week in Minneapolis. Join us in December as we again update live as we attend the Institute for Healthcare Improvement in Orlando.
Updated on 11/5 at 3:05 P.M.
The final stop on our innovation tour was with Formlabs, this week’s innovation prize winner. Following a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised nearly $3 million, the company has worked to develop affordable 3-D printers that don’t sacrifice the precision that is expected from such a device. Their From 2 stereolithographic 3-D printer was referred to by TechCrunch as the first refined consumer-grade SLA printer.
The company envisions its product being used in the medical field for surgical planning. The expectation is that a surgeon would be able to take the 2-D data that is provided on the internal makeup of a patient and recreate an exact 3-D replica for surgical practice. This provides added preparation because everyone’s anatomy is different.
If you’d like to learn more about the winner of this year’s innovation award, visit Formlabs at Booth #311 or read more online.
Updated on 11/5 at 2:15 P.M.
Next on the list of booths to visit was Compounding Solutions. They believe they’ve helped the industry move forward in the world of friction as it relates to medical device technology. Moblize, a lubricious compound, is produced via their own unique and proprietary blend of additives to help reduce frictions by as much as 40%. With this new compound, catheter building can be done with an estimated 50% reduction in costs. They’ve also received estimates from customers that suggest a significant reduction in die head pressure. This allows for a 15% increase in line speed and output which also reduces final costs.
While the product was produced for the medical industry, they’ve also had customers use Mobilize in other ways where lubrication is important, such as mold release. Many other uses are currently being researched and developed. If you’d like to learn more about the lubricant, see Compounding Solutions at Booth #1257 or click here to visit their website.
Updated on 11/5 at 1:20 P.M.
Sunstone Engineering has developed a new micro TIG welder that’s able to merge two metals together. What makes the Orion 200i2 innovative is that it uses argon gas and a tungston electrode to produce a plasma arc that fuses the metal parts together. According to their own internal research and experience, their welding process is much faster and more affordable compared to standard laser welding. After watching the unit permanently weld two screws together while I spoke with the team it certainly seemed to be a very quick process. Having been able to hold the two screws together immediately after they were melded, I can attest to the lack of heat transfer that takes place.
The product also includes an interactive touch screen interface, and monitoring features that help guarantee a consistent weld. If you’d like to learn more about the company and the product you can find them at booth #1637 or find them online.
Updated on 11/5 at 12:20 P.M.
Next on the list is Zeus, a company that produces polymer components for minimally invasive medical devices. Their innovative product at the show involves an advancement in cardiac catheterization. When a catheter is produced, it includes a number of different layers as well as a variety of different materials to help protect different portions of the body. In order to finalize the process, the catheter must be heat shrinked to hold it all together. Once complete, the shrink coating is removed to reveal the final product.
In the past, this has been an arduous process. Often the shrink would tear during removal and require the use of razor blades to delicately remove the outer coating. This caused problems because a single knick in the tubing would ruin the catheter, waste all of the product and require you to start over. This new product by Zeus, called FluoroPEELZ, is a fluoropolymer heat shrink that easily separates from the catheter without tearing. This reduces waste and costs, saves time, and helps to limit personal injury.
If you’d like to learn more about the product visit them at Booth #1105 or visit their website for more information.
Updated on 11/5 at 11:13 A.M.
We are well underway on Day 2, and I had a chance to sit down with Jens Trötzschelm, Executive Vice President at Heraeus. His company is up for this week's innovation award thanks to some new technology that's helping to shrink implants. He spoke with pride about the advancements of his company’s composites. Because of the way they are produced using Cermet (a combination of ceramic and metal), the tech is no longer wired based enabling smaller devices and better integration within the implants. In the end these innovations help to provide better therapy to patients.
The company is asking manufacturers to “imagine a feedthrough as small as the tip of a ballpoint pen.” Sometimes the biggest and most important innovations leave the smallest footprint. At Heraerus, it’s obvious they are trying to do just that. Check them out at Booth #1205 or read more about their Cermet component technology online.
Updated on 11/5 at 8:52 A.M.
Day 2 at the show begins soon. Check in throughout the day as we profile the Minnesota Medtech Week Innovation Prize Finalists. And, don't forget to stop by and see us at booth #1826 if your in town for the conference!
Updated on 11/4 at 2:45 P.M.
3D Printing has a big showing today. For those who don’t know, 3D printing allows the fabrication of actual physical objects for use in the real world. Below is a video that shows the process using metal printing as an example.
At booth #543, a company named Stratasys has a number of printing solutions and materials on display. Among them were some finalized pieces that included several printed objects including a sterilization tray and thee above robot gripper tool. It’s worth a look.
Updated on 11/4 at 1:15 P.M.
Over lunch, Professor Pythagoras showed up to the Center Stage for a game of ‘Do You Science?’ Below are a few of the questions to test yourself on your Scientific knowledge. Answers can be found at the bottom.
Posted on 11/4 at 10:00 A.M.
Over the next few days, Dickson will be on display at Minnesota Medtech Week. This post will update periodically throughout the event with new content and images live from the convention. If you are on hand, be sure to visit us at booth #1826, and look for the blue DicksonOne booth. We’ll be able to answer question on our newest products, and we’d love to hear how you’re using your data loggers to map and monitor both temperature and humidity. Look forward to seeing you there!
Do you Science? Answers:
