Rubber Division Courses in Conjunction wit...

Rubber Division Courses in Conjunction with ASM International

Materials and Processes for Medical Devices Conference (MPMD)

Chemistry and Technology of Polymeric Materials Used in Medical Devices

Instructor: Dave Russell
8:00 a.m. - Noon
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Hilton Minneapolis
Minneapolis, MN

Course Description:
The course begins with an overview of the FDA systems, terminology and guidance documents for: classifications of devices, for obtaining FDA approvals, and for pre-clinical testing including biocompatibility and biodurability testing. Included by example in the foregoing and throughout the course are a broad range of medical devices which are manufactured wholly or substantially from elastomeric and plastic polymeric materials. These include medical latex items such as: gloves, catheters, condoms; urethane, silicone, polyamide, and polyolefin catheters; thermoplastic elastomeric blood tubing; syringes and associated accessories; UHMW and polyurethane orthopedic implants; plastic bottles, packaging and closures; and others.

Key properties, chemical characteristics, and testing and analytical methods related to requisite performance characteristics of materials used in a range of products are discussed. Finally, the course reviews methods of material modification through chemical backbone modifications, surface treatments, incorporation of nano materials to achieve properties such as: anti-microbial properties, electrical conductivity, improved blood compatibility, and/ or improved biodurabilty.

Those who should attend include:
This is intended as an introductory course for Materials, Quality and Engineering personnel who have limited knowledge of rubber and plastic materials used in medical devices. The course may also be useful to management or sales professionals new to the medical device field. There are no suggested technical pre-requisites for this course, one should need only have a general knowledge of rubber and plastics terminology to benefit to derive a significant benefit.

Failure Analysis of Rubber and Plastics by Physical and Chemical Analysis

Instructor: Dave Russell
1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Hilton Minneapolis
Minneapolis, MN

Course Description:
This is a materials testing and analysis course which covers a wide range of thermoset and thermoplastic elastomeric materials as well as engineering plastic materials. The course is divided into four sections: Section 1 begins the course with a brief overview of polymeric materials based on typical properties as relate to intended end uses. Next in section 1 in order to provide a basis for chemical analysis discussions the basic chemical functional group concepts as relate to the polymer backbone are presented. Sections 2 and 3 give a basic introduction to physical testing and chemical analysis methods respectively. Physical testing including: tensile and tear testing, abrasion testing, ozone and other environmental resistance test, stress crack testing, and a range of predictive testing methods. Analytical and instrumental methods covered includes: polymer identification by simple wet chemistry methods as well as more advanced methods such as FT-IR, NMR, state of cure analysis, microscopic and X-ray analysis methods, and chromatographic methods for identification of additive. Finally, section four presents a series of case studies related to a broad range of actual failure analyses including tires, cast polyurethane parts, medical devices, automotive parts, hose and tubing, sporting goods, and the like.

Those who should attend:
Materials and quality technicians and Jr level chemists looking to expand their knowledge and skill set related to testing and analysis. Product engineers, managers, quality professionals desiring to expand their knowledge of what tests or analyses to request and/or desiring better understanding of the significance and interpretation of laboratory results. Pre-requisites; general technical aptitude and general familiarity of technical terminology related to rubber and plastic materials.

For more information visit: http://www.asminternational.org/content/Events/mpmd/education.jsp