From Mini Robots to Workflow Solutions

“Compamed’s success can be explained by the close intertwining of development processes from suppliers and from their customers,” puts Joachim Schäfer, Managing Director of Messe Düsseldorf, in a nutshell as to why, in regard to medical technology innovations, attending the Medica medical trade fair and the supplier market trade fair for medical technology is an excellent opportunity to get a glimpse of the future and see current trends.

During Compamed in November, more than 700 exhibitors will be presenting in the exhibition halls 8a and 8b their technology solutions and service offers for various requirement profiles and tasks of medical technology suppliers: from new materials, components, preliminary products, packaging, and services, such as replacement parts management, to complete made-to-order production.

Since the market for medical technology and medical devices is very dynamic, the innovation cycle is also significantly shorter than in other industries. Often the development expertise of the suppliers becomes the starting point for some groundbreaking innovations in regard to efficient and effective medical treatment. This is true also for the ever increasing miniaturization.

One particular example that comes to mind and still seems like something out of science fiction are the nanorobots that can perform surgeries independently in the patient’s blood stream. The Max Planck Institute (MPI) for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart has realized such visions in two different microswimmers. One is a type of shell that propels itself by opening and closing, the other a screw concept that moves by rotating. They have a diameter of only 100 nm and a length of 400 nm. A rotating magnetic field that is generated externally causes the miniscrew to move. The manufacturing process for the special swimmers is 3D printing, which is becoming more and more important for a wide range of applications at Compamed. All materials used, such as polydimethylsiloxane, are biocompatible and non-harmful to the human body. Researchers envision that one day the nanorobots will be able to deliver tumor therapy drugs directly into the tumor, for example.

Many “mini” solutions have now become reality; and the demand for smaller and smaller systems is unabated in medical technology. “The life science industry has a growing demand for the miniaturization, microstructuring, and integration of optical and electrical functions in cost-efficient components,” explains Peter Kirkegaard, CEO of IMT Masken und Teilungen AG in Switzerland. IMT addresses this demand using manufacturing technologies from the semiconductor industry. IMT manufactures microchannels, through-holes, electrodes, optical and electrical coatings, wave guides, and gratings based on glass; the smallest of these structures have tiny dimensions starting at only 150 nm. They are used, among others, in lab-on-a-chip systems.

IMT will be represented with roughly another 50 exhibitors at the shared booth of IVAM Microtechnology Network, which will again be a key area for microsystem technologies, nanotechnologies, production technology, and process control in hall 8a. “This is a new record; we will have an area of about 700 square meters,” explains Mona Okroy-Hellweg, IVAM spokesperson. The IVAM network from Dortmund will again be organizing this year’s Compamed High-Tech forum.

Compamed technologies and products will be used, among others, in the medical devices and systems that will be presented at Medica, the world’s largest medical trade fair. A central strength of this trade fair is that it focuses not only on solutions for individual medical disciplines, but also on the complete workflow for patient treatment, and does so at one place and at one time, explains Managing Director Schäfer. This year about 4,800 exhibitors from more than 60 nations will again use Medica to introduce the full broad spectrum of new products, services, and processes for outpatient and inpatient patient care. No other event in the world is even close to providing this wealth of innovations.

Key areas at the trade fair will be organized according to hall: electromedicine/medical technology, laboratory technology and diagnostics, physiotherapy and orthopedic technology, commodities and consumables, information and communication technology, medical furniture, and special spatial arrangement for medical centers and doctor’s offices. The trade fair is glad to welcome to the exhibition halls companies from the USA, China, the Netherlands, France, Spain, South Korea, Turkey, and Saudi-Arabia. The high degree of internationality in the exhibitors at Medica is also mirrored in the attendees: close to 130,000 people attended the trade fair last year; more than one out of every two people was an international attendee, representing a total of about 120 nations. su

For the first time, Compamed will be held at exactly the same time as Medica, from November 16 to 19, 2015. Previously, the supplier market ended a day earlier than the Medica trade fair. Also new this year are the new show days from Monday to Thursday. The trade fairs will be open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. As in previous years, one ticket will provide admission to both events.