Scientists concluded that data available today was insufficient to lead to firm conclusions regarding the health risk for women with PIP silicone breast implants. The SCENIHR report (requested by the Commission in early January) stresses that, based on the limited data currently available, there is some concern regarding the possibility of inflammation induced by ruptured PIP silicone implants. The report concludes that each case needs to be assessed individually, so the advice remains that women who are worried should contact their surgeon. Scientists also recommend that further work be undertaken as a priority to establish with greater certainty any health risks associated with PIP silicone breast implants, in order to ensure that potential risks are properly established, quantified and managed.

With regard to the question of whether the breast implants manufactured by PIP are more prone to failure than those of other manufacturers, SCENIHR said that PIP implants have been found to vary considerably in composition and as a result are likely to vary substantially in performance characteristics. SCENIHR concluded on the basis of available data, that many PIP implants were manufactured from non-medical grade silicone. This type of silicone may contain some components that can weaken the implant shell and diffuse into the body tissues.

Next steps:

 First, the European Commission will ask the Scientific Committee to pursue a more in-depth investigation based on data from investigations by Member States.

Second, the Commission will discuss with the Member States how surveillance of the medical devices can be reinforced immediately within the existing legislative framework. These issues could include further recourse to unannounced inspections, enhanced controls of notified bodies and additional sample testing on products already on the market.

Third, the Commission is also conducting a stress test in order to identify how best the questions raised by this issue can be addressed in the upcoming revision of the legislation on medical devices which was already underway. The Commission still envisages adopting a proposal on the revision of the Medical Devices legislation in the course of this semester. National health authorities in the Health Security Committee convene by audio conference today to discuss the follow up to the Opinion.

March 20. -21. 2012, Shanghai /China
7th International Conference on Laser Processes and Components – in cooperation with PICALO
In the previous years the Chinese laser market has developed at a rapid race. The Peoples Republic of China is one of the biggest export target markets for photonics products. To promote the cooperation and the technology transfer between science and industry in the field of laser technology, the 7th International Conference on Laser Processes and Components will be held in March 20-21, 2012 in Shanghai.
The 7th International Conference on Laser Processes and Components as parts of “PHOTONICS CONGRESS CHINA” held every year alternating with the Pacific International Conference on Applications of Lasers and Optics (PICALO), accompanying with LASER World of PHOTONICS CHINA 2012. Further information at: www.photonics-congress-china.cn/lpc_EN.html

April 17-20, 2012, Shenzhen/China
China International Medical Equipment Fair (CMEF)
Showcase your products and services to 66,000 visitors at this largest medtech fair in Asia. Feel the pulse of both the Chinese and international medical technology market and benefit from the trade fair services of our co-organizer Osec. Deadline for registration: December 22, 2011. For more information please click here

April 20. – 22. 2012, Singapore/Malaysia
IDEM Singapore 2012
The International Dental Exhibition Singapore is the foremost dental trade and knowledge-sharing platform in Asia Pacific. IDEM Singapore delivers the latest international technologies and techniques via a powerful combination of international trade exhibition and cutting-edge scientific conference. Further information please find at: http://www.idem-singapore.com/

April 23. – 24. 2012, Interlaken/Switzerland
[MEET THE EXPERT] Material and Surface Technology for Implants
Next spring the Medical Cluster and the RMS Foundation in cooperation with the Swiss Society for Surface Technology SGO-SST, will bring you the fourth edition of this event. The goal of the conference is to offer a platform for discussion and knowledge transfer between individuals active in the implant field.
In addition to keynote lectures, short presentations (15 min.) of current projects from select companies will be given and discussed. To ensure a broad range of topics and presenters, we would like to invite you to submit an abstract for one of the select short presentations. Attached to this email you will find more information on abstract submission as well as other details on the upcoming event. The deadline for abstract submission is the 31st of January 2012. Registration is fast and can be completed online at www.medical-cluster.ch/events

April 24. – 27. 2012, Tashkent/Uzbekistan
17th Tashkent International Healthcare Exhibition - “TIHE 2012”
TIHE is the leading specialised exhibition and the only UFI approved medical event in Uzbekistan and the major Uzbekistan exhibition for medical & laboratory equipment, disposable materials, instruments and equipment for hospitals, clinics & laboratories.
TIHE provides companies with the best opportunity to successfully enter one of the most promising markets with dynamically developing medical sector, to make a unique presentation and promotion of your products for all over Central Asia region, to make valuable business contracts, conclude profitable agreements with local companies, and find new potential consumers. In the current conditions, Uzbekistan remains one of the most steadily developing emerging markets.  
Among exhibitors of TIHE are such well-known companies like Toshiba Medical Systems, Philips Healthcare, Draeger Medical, Hitachi, Cardinal Health, GE Healthcare, Schiller AG, Carl Zeiss, Samsung – Medison, and many others.
Official support:
Ministry of Public Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan Dental Association
JSC Uztibtecnika
For further details on participation with Stand at the Exhibition, Presentation, Conference and Seminars organization, Advertisement in the Official Catalogue, etc. please contact ITE Uzbekistan office at http://www.ite-uzbekistan.uz/vis/tihe/eng/index.php

May 02. – 04. 2012, Brescia/Italy
PROMED 2012
First International conference on Design and Processes for Medical Devices will be held in Lake of Garda. Join us in this stimulating meeting about manufacturing, medical devices design, development, biomaterials and more. Researchers in engineering and medical fields are all welcome. Topics may include, but are not limited to:
Medical device design and prototyping  -  Design for multi-scale manufacturing  -  Biomaterials and processing  -  Multi-scale material modelling and process simulations  – Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine  -  Additive manufacturing processes  -  Machining, forming, EDM and ECM, laser-based processing, casting, moulding and others. Machines and equipment including tooling  -  fixturing, sensors systems  -  control
Metrology  -  materials handling  -  joining, and assembly. For more information, please visit: http://promed2012.ing.unibs.it

May 08. – 09. 2012, Erfurt Exhibition Centre
Rapid.Tech – Trade fair and user´s conference for rapid technology
For the ninth time, the Rapid.Tech 2012 Congress Exhibition in Erfurt will pave the way for product development from prototype manufacturing to the direct production of the end product and its components. This Additive Manufacturing (AM) is a cross-sectional technology, for which both the intensive exchange of ideas with engineers as well as detailed practical reports from users are essential for its successful application.
As components produced by AM are being used in an ever increasing number of industries and grant the respective products unique features, in addition to the user conference and engineer day, the specialist forums “CAD/CAM and Rapid Prototyping in dentistry technology”, “Medical technology” and “Aviation” are also included in the Rapid.Tech program. With regard to Rapid.Tech 2011, 1,200 visitors and conference participants as well as 56 exhibitors demonstrate the importance of this range.
In addition to the technical components in the development of generative products, economic issues are becoming increasingly important. What effect do generative production procedures have on the organisation of the product development process? What can and must adapted business models look like? The Rapid.Tech from the 8th to 9th of May 2012 is developing just like AM and will therefore discuss such problems. Further information can be found at: www.messe-erfurt.de

May 23. – 24. 2012, Suzhou/China
ChinaBio® Partnering Forum 2012
This event will attract biotech and pharma leaders from around the world along with hundreds of China-based developers of novel technologies for two days of productive partnering.
ChinaBio Partnering Forum 2011 had more than 650 delegates from 370 companies and 24 countries, making it the largest partnering conference in China. The 2012 edition promises to be even better with the return of the successful Innovation Showcase featuring top researchers from leading institutes and universities throughout China.
The conference also features partneringONE, enabling delegates to efficiently identify, meet and network with companies from across the life science value chain.
With over one-third of the attendees being C-level decision makers, ChinaBio Partnering Forum is the event to get partnerships started in China. For more information, please visit: www.ebdgroup.com/cbpf/index.php

September 14. – 16. 2012, Mumbai/India
PROGRESS IN LIGHT – LASER World of PHOTONICS EXPANDS TO INDIA
India is a rapidly growing market. Demand for industrial laser and optical systems is increasing, presenting the photonics industry with a great deal of potential.
Messe München International has been tracking the many business prospects and has decided to establish a new platform for the laser and photonics industry in India. LASER World of PHOTONICS INDIA is a unique opportunity for you to tap this market at just the right time. Benefit from the high growth rates that are expected over the next years. For more information, please visit: www.world-of-photonics.net/en/laser-india/start

September 25. – 27. 2012, Lucerne/Switzerland
World Medtech Forum Lucerne
First International Medical Technology Forum in Lucerne
The event combines a trade fair, congress and various other meetings – creating a new format for the Swiss medical technology industry. Several market studies have shown that the medical technology sector is growing at an above-average rate and is one of the key sectors in Swiss industry. The Medical Cluster is on board as an organizational partner: the Medical Cluster unites manufacturers, suppliers, service, research and development companies in the medical technology supply chain throughout Switzerland. The World Medtech Forum combines a trade fair and congress and provides space for various other meetings. During the three-day trade fair, the Swiss supply industry, institutes for research, development and education, as well as institutional partners and sponsoring organizations, will present their products and services to the international manufacturers of medical technology products. The congress will emphasize the developments in the relevant global medical technology markets and offer help with decision-making on export projects.  For more information, please visit: www.medtech-forum.ch

 “We are opening three new hospitals this year in the UAE, and planning for the addition of 1,500 patient beds in the next two years. This expansion means that we need to acquire new products catering to patients’ comfort and requirements, while also delivering excellent results. NMC has always been the first to utilise the latest, innovative technologies in the market, in order to ensure our patients receive the best diagnosis, care and results. We have confidence in Siemens’ new products and solutions; I am certain that our investments in Siemens’ technological innovations will enable us to achieve our objectives.” said Dr. B. R. Shetty, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, NMC.

The fusion imaging technology of the Acuson S3000 Ultrasound system is the first system to enable the automatic fusion of 3-D computed tomography (CT) volumes with real-time ultrasound via a single click. What would take minutes before, can now be completed in approximately three seconds, which benefits both patients and doctors in terms of efficiency. The Somatom Perspective CT scanner is the most cost-effective product of its kind to be introduced into the market, as the unique eMode functionality helps to relieve wear and tear on the CT scanner and increases its life cycle.

 As a result, components need to be replaced less often, and maintenance costs are reduced. Maurice Faber(picture; right), Vice President Healthcare Sector, Siemens LLC, commented: “We would like to congratulate NMC on being an early adopter of the latest equipment with the best possible diagnostics, and always staying ahead of the curve with technological advancements. NMC’s patients can expect better care and comfort, with the lowest possible exposure to radiation. We are proud to support NMC’s vision and objectives, which include encouraging a higher patient throughput.” NMC first purchased Siemens’ technology in 1996, and has since purchased a complete range of imaging and radiology equipment from Siemens. As a result, NMC patients have benefitted from better service, the latest technology and high-quality equipment, all designed to maximize patient comfort.

Now Prof. Rüssel and his colleagues of the Otto-Schott-Institute for Glass Chemistry succeeded in producing a new kind of glass ceramic with a nanocrystalline structure, which seems to be well suited to be used in dentistry due to their high strength and its optical characteristics. The glass chemists of Jena University recently published their research results in the online-edition of the science magazine “Journal of Biomedical Materials Research“ (doi: 10.1002/jbm.b.31972).

Glass-ceramics on the basis of magnesium-, aluminium-, and silicon oxide are distinguished by their enormous strength. “We achieve a strength five times higher than with comparable denture ceramics available today”, Prof. Rüssel explains. The Jena glass chemists have been working for a while on high density ceramics, but so far only for utilisation in other fields, for instance as the basis of new efficient computer hard drives. “In combination with new optical characteristics an additional field of application is opening up for these materials in dentistry“, Prof. Rüssel is convinced.

Prof. Dr. Christian Rüssel

 Materials, to be considered as dentures are not supposed to be optically different from natural teeth. At the same time not only the right colour shade is important. “The enamel is partly translucent, which the ceramic is also supposed to be“, Prof. Rüssel says. To achieve these characteristics, the glass-ceramics are produced according to an exactly specified temperature scheme: First of all the basic materials are melted at about 1.500 °C, then cooled down and finely cut up.
Then the glass is melted again and cooled down again. Finally, nanocrystals are generated by controlled heating to about 1,000 °C. “This procedure determines the crystallisation crucial for the strength of the product“, the glass chemist Rüssel explains. But this was a technical tightrope walk. Because a too strongly crystallised material disperses the light, becomes opaque and looks like plaster.

The secret of the Jena glass ceramic lies in its consistence of nanocrystals. The size of these is at most 100 nanometers in general. “They are too small to strongly disperse light and therefore the ceramic looks translucent, like a natural tooth“, Prof. Rüssel says. A lot of developing work is necessary until the materials from the Jena Otto-Schott-Institute will be able to be used as dentures. But the groundwork is done. Prof. Rüssel is sure of it.

 Original Publication: Dittmer M, Rüssel C.: Colorless and high strength MgO/Al2O3/SiO2 glass-ceramic dental material using zirconia as nucleating agent. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater. 2011 Nov 21. doi: 10.1002/jbm.b.31972

“With biocompatible and FDA-certified resin production now in place in our Brazil and Argentina plants, in addition to the United States, Europe and Singapore, we are well positioned to meet the local supply needs of healthcare device manufacturers worldwide who have production facilities here in South America,” said Ricardo Knecht, general manager, South America, Innovative Plastics.

 “SABIC continues to proactively invest in local capabilities that benefit our customers. Our broad and deep portfolio of healthcare materials, together with value-added services such as custom color matching and technical support, offers a critical competitive advantage in the rapidly changing and highly competitive medical products sector.”

With the certification of the two SABIC facilities, medical device manufacturers and other healthcare customers can rely on local sources of supply instead of having to wait for imports to arrive. The lead time for SABIC FDA and biocompatible resins in the region is expected to drop dramatically, helping customers accelerate time to market for their products. With local production of healthcare grades, manufacturers can avoid delays, cut inventory costs because they no longer need to stockpile resin, and enjoy greater flexibility in ordering materials. In addition, customers can now be confident about expanding their use of SABIC healthcare materials in new applications, knowing that they have a reliable local source of supply backed with local expertise, technical support and SABIC’s healthcare product policy.

Mr. Bischkopf, hasn’t MEDTEC Europe, due to run from 13 to 15 March 2012 in Stuttgart, now become MEDTEC Germany in actual fact?

 No. It is more the case that MEDTEC Ireland, UK, France and, from 2012, MEDTEC Italy as well, are regional satellites of MEDTEC Europe. The latter is and will remain the leading European trade fair for the medical technology industry for exhibitors and visitors from the whole of Europe. But because designers and engineers traditionally only have limited travel budgets, in Stuttgart we see only upper management levels from the countries you’ve named. Middle management is mainly to be found at regional fairs. With MEDTEC Italy in Modena, we will be staging a fair in the centre of the Italian medical technology industry. In the region around Mirandola-Modena alone, there are approximately 100 companies engaged exclusively in the medtech industry. In this way we will be able to ensure that, here too, local decision-makers will have direct access to suppliers in the value added chain operating on a global scale.

What conceptual differences are there between the various country-specific MEDTEC fairs?

 As I’ve said, the fairs in the UK, France, Ireland and, from 2012 Italy as well, are satellite events addressing only a ‘local’ clientele as the visitors. But the concept is similar to that of MEDTEC Europe. All events have an exhibition and a conference dimension. However, each fair also has a particular thrust and focus reflecting the special requirements and challenges of their particular country. Perhaps MEDTEC Ireland is an exception to our general approach, because it always takes the form of a ‘table-top’ fair in a hotel in Galway or Cork. Also, it is limited in size, hosting 80 exhibitors at the most, whereas the other events are held on conventional fair sites.

With MDM Brazil in June and MEDTEC India in October, UBM Canon are also venturing into more virgin territory in the global markets. What role does UBM Canon assign to these fairs in its events portfolio and what are the specific goals to be achieved on the Brazilian and Indian medtech markets in the next five years?

With our fairs, we play a pioneering role and see ourselves as preparing the way for developments in medtech in the respective markets. Who would have thought over ten years ago that MEDTEC in Stuttgart, which started with 150 exhibitors, would be hosting some 1,000 exhibitors today? Our experience in Japan and China is similar, though the initial years could be described as rather challenging, whereas now we have established very good events which bring attractive new business for exhibitors. Although India and Brazil are still in their infancy as regards the size of the industry, growth rates of up to 15% are also being forecast for these countries for the coming years. Despite some initial scepticism, when some of our exhibitors look back on the first Indian fair it was the most successful in their entire history. And as for our fair in Sao Paulo, we see it as one of the best inaugural events that we had ever had in our portfolio up to that time.

The research is directed towards a biobased polymer materials technology, on one hand driven by the limited availability of fossil feedstock and the concerns of climate change by the use of consumptive technologies, on the other hand intended to capitalize on new prospects to obtain complex and valuable building blocks and polymers directly from plants. The location at the Chemelot Campus will enable close collaboration with existing industries and will allow the formation of new public-private networks with SMEs and future start-ups.
This way transfer from the lab bench to process engineering and innovation will be promoted and accelerated. The partners will contribute to the project with their individual strengths and capabilities, mainly the molecular biology, plant biotechnology, molecular and process engineering sciences and medical technology in Aachen and the biology, computational sciences, biomaterials science and clinical expertise of Maastricht. Key research ambitions will be  the use of natural plants as production plants for advanced biobased building blocks and macromolecules,  chemical transformation of such building blocks for higher functionality,  processing and compounding of biobased building blocks and polymers into application driven materials and  development of biobased, bioactive materials for clinical use, including applications in regenerative medicine.

This cooperation of excellence between Maastricht and Aachen will establish teams of young and ambitious scientists who will work under the lead of three professors at Chemelot. Selections for human resources will start early 2012 and start of activities at Chemelot is proposed for mid-2012. The researchers will have lab facilities and office space at Chemelot, as well as access rights to all facilities in both universities. The start-up funding for the excellence initiative is committed by Aachen and Maastricht.

With a history that spans more than a decade, the biennial exhibition has grown exponentially over the years. The last edition of MEDICAL FAIR ASIA held in 2010 set a new record in the number of attendees and exhibiting companies as it attracted more than 7,000 quality trade visitors, and 475 companies from 31 countries, of which 80% came from overseas. Next year, MEDICAL FAIR ASIA is expected to attract strong participation from some 500 exhibitors from 35 countries and an attendance of 10,000 trade visitors from across ASEAN and the Asia Pacific region.

It is also anticipated to draw participation from various national groups such as Austria, China, France, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan, further underpinning the global relevance of the exhibition. Raising the bar and providing a platform for the medical technology segment, 2012 will see the addition of MEDICAL MANUFACTURING ASIA to Messe Düsseldorf Asia’s portfolio. Co-located with MEDICAL FAIR ASIA 2012, the exhibition is jointly organised by the Singapore Precision Engineering & Tooling Association (SPETA). MEDICAL MANUFACTURING ASIA comes at a time when the Asia Pacific medical device market is expected to account for 25% of global market share and reach US$62.3 billion in revenue by 2012. The co-located exhibitions offer synergistic opportunities for specialists sourcing diversified solutions.

With the expansion of the show floor and the concurrently held exhibition, this further reinforces MEDICAL FAIR ASIA as the region’s most prominent medical and health care equipment and supplies sourcing platform. “The increasingly rising participation and attendance at MEDICAL FAIR ASIA with record numbers at the last edition in 2010, coupled with the booming medical and health care industry in Asia, is a clear indication of the growing need for a trade fair specifically dedicated to Asia’s medical and health care sectors. It is also testament to the exhibition’s role and position as a meeting place for all medical and health care professionals in Asia and beyond,” says Gernot Ringling, Managing Director, Messe Düsseldorf Asia.

The unprecedented growth of the Southeast Asian healthcare market due to the ever increasing awareness and benefits of quality healthcare, upward trend of medical tourism, rising ageing population, higher life expectancies, and economic development have given rise to a booming medical and health care sector particularly in medical devices and equipment. The demand for improved medical and health care products and services is expected to ignite the growth of a global market for medical equipment and supplies, currently valued at US$273 billion.

Countries in the region, particularly Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia are already making headway as they take advantage of the boom in the global healthcare market. At present, Southeast Asia records the highest private health expenditure of any region in the world, at 63.1% of total health expenditures. Set against this impressive backdrop, major ASEAN nations are boosting their healthcare spending in order to expand access to treatment, modernise their medical systems and furnish more advanced services to both local and foreign patients, and to cater to the silver industry. This emergent market creates opportunities for enterprising companies across the entire health care ecosystem planning to penetrate the ASEAN region.

www.medicalfair-asia.com / www.medmanufacturing-asia.com

Claude Dartiguelongue, President, BD Medical – Pharmaceutical Systems, says: “BD is committed to providing high-quality, innovative, highly customisable, cost-effective devices designed specifically to meet chronic disease patients’ needs for safety, comfort and convenience. With BD Physioject™, developed through a robust, patient-centric design process, we aim to improve drug efficacy, the patient experience and treatment compliance.”

Clinical trials show that BD Physioject™ provides safety, efficiency, acceptance by patients, and improved pain perception versus the same syringe used by a nurse. BD Physioject™ can be customised to offer a modified external design, flexible injection duration, a range of possible subcutaneous injection depths, and various syringe options (such as an end-of-dose indicator) for the unique requirements of pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers.

BD Physioject™ also includes a straightforward two-part assembly process that simplifies production and manufacturing. To further support its global customers, BD offers deep understanding and expertise of drug and device combinations through all stages of the development process, from design through to launch, including global regulatory support.

 BD Physioject™ is designed for use in combination with the BD Hypak™ for Biotech syringe, a state-of-the-art primary container optimised for use with biologics to provide, among other benefits, a low level of interaction with such drugs. The complete integrated system offers a high-quality, reliable solution for the self-injection market.
“We are excited to be introducing a new generation of disposable auto-injectors with the launch of BD Physioject™ and we look forward to collaborating with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to facilitate the development and launch of self-injection devices, with the common end goal of improving the lives of patients managing chronic diseases,” Ms. Dartiguelongue adds.

Merck Serono selected Physioject as the platform for RebiDose™, the Rebif® pre-filled pen, for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Merck Serono announced the approval of RebiDose™ in Europe and Australia in October 2010.

www.bd.com.

SAFIRE helps users reduce dose by up to 60% compared to previous filtered back projection techniques, as documented in the FDA clearance letter. “From a clinical perspective, SAFIRE helps to significantly reduce radiation exposure across the whole portfolio of clinical applications and continues to demonstrate Siemens’ commitment to deliver the best possible patient care at the lowest possible radiation dose,” said Elliot Fishman, MD, CT section chief of radiology at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions in Baltimore, and a member of the SIERRA (Siemens Radiation Reduction Alliance) dose expert panel.

SAFIRE’s extremely fast reconstruction speed of 20 images per second enables reconstruction of a typical high-resolution thorax examination of 30 cm in just 15 seconds. With this as-yetunmatched reconstruction performance, SAFIRE can be applied routinely in clinical practice.

SAFIRE ties into the Siemens Healthcare global initiative Agenda 2013, which among other measures focuses on driving the development of next-generation healthcare IT.

“Siemens once again demonstrates its commitment to radiation dose reduction in computed tomography,” said Stefan Ulzheimer, PhD, Director of Global Scientific Marketing, Siemens Healthcare Computed Tomography. “Independent scientific validation of our products has always been a cornerstone of our development process. We are extremely excited that the FDA now recognizes these efforts and, to our knowledge, for the first time has allowed a quantitative dose reduction claim for an iterative reconstruction technique in the industry.”

SAFIRE is available for Siemens SOMATOM Definition Flash and SOMATOM Definition AS CT systems and will be available on the Definition DS in mid-2012. In the meantime, Siemens’ current iterative reconstruction method, IRIS (Iterative Reconstruction in Image Space), will remain available for SOMATOM Definition dualsource systems and additionally, due to the overwhelming response to IRIS in the Siemens CT install base, for SOMATOM Emotion 16 (2007) and SOMATOM Sensation 40, 64 and Open CT systems.

www.siemens.com