The White Rose Health Innovation Partnership Technology Watch Seminar: 'Innovations in Materials for Medical Devices' held in Leeds on 17 June saw industrial and academic experts describing the latest advances in the field.

Five experts from Industry and Academia addressed the meeting, and the presentations were followed by lively Q&A sessions to develop the themes even further. Dr Nigel Corlett (Exponent) got the meeting off to a flying start with a comprehensive overview of the corrosion of alloys used in medical devices. Professor Rachel Williams described the work of her group at Liverpool University in the area of surface modification by gas plasma treatment, and after a networking lunch David Farrar, Technology Manager with Smith & Nephew, described latest research in degradable polymers used for implantable medical devices. Professor Alex Seifalian (UCL) discussed nanocomposite systems for cardiovascular devices, and the event was rounded off by Dr Chris Marsden, (Johnson & Johnson) who descibed the development of novel wound dressing systems.

One delegate commented: "I was really pleased that there was a good balance of academic and industrial participation in the event. The focus on applied science was a key feature that attracted me, and the networking opportunity was very valuable".

Our picture shows (L to R): Alex Seifalian, Chris Marsden, Rachel Williams, David Farrar and Nigel Corlett.

PDF copies of some of the presentations are available for download here.

A second seminar, focussing on manufacturing technologies for medical devices, is planned for later this year.