IME West 2024 (or more familiar to many—MD&M West) recently took place yet again in sunny southern California, bringing together the suppliers (typically the exhibitors) and many of their customers (attendees and/or medical device OEMs). These folks travel to the show to make new contacts, showcase unique capabilities, and generate leads for future business. For these goals, the West show is one of the largest and best events for this purpose in the U.S.

When I attend, however, my goals are a bit different. Sure, I’m seeking new contacts, but really, my objective is to be educated and introduced to new technologies. Traveling to this event for more than two decades, I find it wonderful I can still experience new things when walking the aisles.

That said, this year I was able to begin my three-day visit helping to facilitate the education of others. I moderated a Coffee Talk Q&A session on additive manufacturing (AM) presented by Chloe Vollaro, Protolabs application engineer, and Bryan Patrick, Midwest Interventional Solutions CEO, titled “Revolutionizing Medical Product Development with Additive Manufacturing.” Speaking to a full room in a session that started before the expo hall even opened demonstrated the strong interest AM still generates within manufacturing. Look for the discussion to be presented via webinar as Protolabs plans to recreate it online.

Completing my pre-arranged responsibilities, I was able to journey out into the expo hall in earnest, making my way to each appointment on my list. One of the first was with Cirtec Medical, a vertically integrated, full-service outsource partner that’s very excited about the neuromodulation and computer-brain interface space. I was informed they seek to enable the right treatment at the right time. They are working on neuromodulation technologies that allow for remote adjustments to be made, providing the opportunity for earlier intervention. Researchers are able to come to the organization with concepts and leverage the company’s enabling technologies to achieve the clinical goal. Also interesting was the adoption of neuro technologies being explored for the development of smart implants for extremities. Honestly, just a number of cool projects to hear about.

Many steps later found me heading for the Junkosha booth where I got the deep dive on what peelable heat shrink tubing is and why it’s necessary. This was way more of an education than I expected, but after years of seeing new product releases about this type of technology, I finally understand its purpose. The formation of cables in a very tightly packed area can leverage peelable tubing to ensure it compresses in a reliable method. Then, after the cable is set, this tubing is peeled away. [Watch me try my hand at peeling the tubing at Junkosha’s LinkedIn page (shorturl.at/RWX14)].

Years ago, I encountered an aspiring developer of a CPAP device that would fit directly into your nose. No hoses or tubing required. The feedback I saw revolved around the power required for it and the necessary battery to drive the pump. Not sure we’re there yet, but Ensurge Micropower seems to be headed in the right direction. They shared with me what looked to be some very interesting (and rather small) power supplies that could be mounted directly onto a board. These 1-100 mAh rechargeable solid-state lithium microbatteries are intended to be used for wearables, hearables, and IoT applications (but really, designers can likely envision a host of other applications for them). The company’s custom ability to adjust the layering of the power supply alters the length of time a single charge would last.

I enjoyed a conversation with Ascential Technologies, where we discussed nearshoring and how the company’s merging of contract manufacturing with automation support is ideally suited to serve this trend in medical device manufacturing. The organization is primarily focused on orthopedics, implantables, drug delivery, and point-of-care technologies. Some may recognize the firm’s former identity—Burke Porter—which is what it went by for 70 years before rebranding last year.

Event attendees also learned of a new alliance that was announced at the show. The West Coast Device Alliance brings together five firms— Eagle Medical Inc., WESTPAK Inc., Pacific BioLabs Inc., SteriTek Inc., and Blue Line Sterilization LLC—to better serve medical device manufacturers with their packaging, sterilization, and laboratory testing needs. The Alliance provides a comprehensive approach to challenges in these areas, leveraging the expertise of the organizations to work as a collaborative unit.

I know I missed a myriad of fantastic innovations and companies at this year’s event so please share with me the highlights you thought highly of. I’d greatly appreciate hearing about them. 

Sean Fenske, Editor-in-Chief
sfenske@rodmanmedia.com