Lisa McTigue Pierce, Executive Editor

August 9, 2019

11 Min Read
Medical, packaging and smart manufacturing sessions tackle trends, issues

The conference program at the upcoming MinnPack and MD&M Minneapolis events helps packaging professionals stay on top of trends and critical issues in packaging and medtech. Some of the educational presentations are free to anyone attending the expos.

The co-located shows MinnPack and MD&M Minneapolis—at the Minneapolis Convention Center Oct. 23-24—combine an active tradeshow with dynamic presentations targeted to medical, smart manufacturing and packaging professionals.

The paid conference for MD&M (medical device and manufacturing) contains three tracks:
1. Research & Development
2. Product Development
3. Quality & Manufacturing

In addition to admittance to any MD&M conference session and a conference networking reception, conference attendees also gain free entry to the expo floor, where additional sessions can be seen for free at the Medtech Central Theatre (Booth 1947); the Tech Theater (Booth 2509); andEngineering HQ Theater (Booth 744). These show-floor presentations are free to all expo visitors.

Early-bird conference pricing of $499 (2-day pass) and $299 (1-day pass) ends Aug. 28. After that, prices are $699 (2-day pass) and $399 (1-day pass). Onsite, prices go up to $899 and $599, respectively. Visit the website for group discounts.

Expo passes are free for qualified registrants before Oct. 23 but will cost $179 on-site. Register now!

What: MD&M Conference (paid): Research & Development - Track A
When: Wed., Oct. 23
Where: Room 208AB

8:30 to 9:15 a.m.
Keynote: Digital Health Innovation—Evolution or Revolution? A Look into the Next Decade of Digital Health
Teresa Prego, vp of marketing and market development, Global Kinetics

9:15 to 10:00 a.m.
Panel: Replacing Pills with Electricity: The Reality and Future of Bioelectronic Medicine
Moderator: Patrick Ganzer, principal research scientist & bioelectronic medicine lead, Battelle
Panelists: Kip Ludwig, associate professor, Grainger Institute of Engineering, thrust lead at University of Wisconsin-Madison
John Rondoni, vp product development, operations, quality, Inspire Medical Systems Inc.
Doug Weber, associate professor of bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh

10:15 to 11:00 a.m.
The Patent Landscape for Medtech’s Hottest Technologies
Christopher Turoski, law professor and director of patent programs, University of Minnesota Law School
Deepak Sharma, engineering project manager, FlexDex Surgical Inc.

11:00 to 11:45 a.m.
Regulatory Opportunity Assessment for Exploratory Technologies
James Kleinedler, principal, regulatory affairs, emerging therapies, interventional cardiology, Boston Scientific

1:15 to 2:00 p.m.
Keynote: From Zero to $5.75 Billion: Making Medtech Powerhouses
Christopher Velis, founder and executive chairman, Miraki Innovation

2:00 to 2:45 p.m.
Panel: Fostering Innovation: How to Spark Creative Thinking
Moderator: Adam Reinhardt, manager, embedded software engineering, cardiac rhythm management, Boston Scientific
Panelists: Kate Dudgeon, director of research and strategy, Worrell
Bob Wilson, manager, business consultant, Boston Scientific

3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Effectively Managing & Shaping R&D Team Challenges
Shantanu Shivdekar, staff product development engineer, Ethicon

What: MD&M Conference (paid): Product Development - Track B
When: Wed., Oct. 23
Where: Room 206AB

8:30 to 9:15 a.m.
Keynote: Digital Health Innovation—Evolution or Revolution? A Look into the Next Decade of Digital Health
Teresa Prego, vp of marketing and market development, Global Kinetics

9:15 to 10:00 a.m.
Panel: Building Better Cross-Functional Teams for the Digital Health Explosion
Moderator: Ruth Barry, director of electrical engineering, bb7
Panelists: Binita Sinha, program director, Olympus Surgical Technologies America
Javaid Masoud, vp, research and technology, Acist Medical
Tammy Mae Moga, principal global privacy and security, Medtronic

10:15 to 11:00 a.m.
Panel: The Top 5 Things You Need to Know About the Implantable Internet of Things
Moderator: Bill Betten, president, Betten System Solutions LLC
Panelists: Mark Wehde, section head, Division of Engineering, Mayo Clinic
Brian Kronstedt, senior product development manager, Preventice Solutions
Krishnan Kasthurirengan, vp-medical devices, Mindteck

11:00 to 11:45 a.m.
Preparing to be a Data-Driven Medical Device Organization
Srihari Yamanoor, president, DesignAbly

1:15 to 2:00 p.m.
Keynote: From Zero to $5.75 Billion: Making Medtech Powerhouses
Christopher Velis, founder and executive chairman, Miraki Innovation

2:00 to 2:45 p.m.
Panel: How Miniaturization Is Driving Design in Top Medical Device Categories
Moderator: Bill Betten, president, Betten System Solutions LLC
Panelists: Donna Bibber, vp, Isometric Micro Molding
Lefteris Kampianakis, senior applications engineer, Cactus Semiconductor, A Cirtec Co.
Kevin Verzal, program director, Inspire Medical Systems Inc.

3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Project Management Best Practices for Engineers
Perry Parendo, president, Perry’s Solutions LLC

What: MD&M Conference (paid): Quality & Manufacturing - Track C
When: Wed., Oct. 23
Where: Room 207AB

8:30 to 9:15 a.m.
Keynote: Digital Health Innovation—Evolution or Revolution? A Look into the Next Decade of Digital Health
Teresa Prego, vp of marketing and market development, Global Kinetics

9:15 to 10:00 a.m.
FDA Case for Quality: How to Structure Your CMMI Assessments for Competitive Advantage & Improved Results
Mark Rutkiewicz, vp, quality, Innovize
Cindy Clague, R&D director, Medical Device Innovation
Al Crouse, senior quality director, CVRx Inc.

10:15 to 11:00 a.m.
Improving Quality in Manufacturing: How Implementing Both ISO9001:2015 & ISO13485:2016 Benefits Your Organization
Matt Pawluk, director of quality and manufacturing, Evolve Manufacturing Technologies Inc.

11:00 to 11:45 a.m.
Risk Management as a DFM Tool for Improved Process Risk
Michelle Jirak, senior design assurance engineer, Biomerics Advanced Catheter

1:15 to 2:00 p.m.
Keynote: From Zero to $5.75 Billion: Making Medtech Powerhouses
Christopher Velis, founder and executive chairman, Miraki Innovation

2:00 to 2:45 p.m.
Tracing Device Performance Issues in Medical Electronics
Jason Clevenger, principal scientist, Exponent

3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
What Manufacturing Engineers Can Teach Design Engineers About Cost & Quality
Deepak Sharma, engineering project manager, FlexDex Surgical Inc.

What: Medtech Central Theatre (free to all expo attendees)
When: Wed., Oct. 23
Where: Booth 1947

10:25 to 11:00 a.m.
Secrets to Solving The 5 Hardest Design Problems in Medtech
Brian Mullins, director, design and development, Kablooe

11:00 to 11:45 a.m.
#WeAreNotWaiting: Building an Artificial Pancreas & Other Open Source Healthcare Innovations
Dana Lewis, founder, Open Source Artificial Pancreas System (#OpenAPS)

12:00 to 12:45 p.m.
Panel: Is Silicon Valley Eclipsing Minnesota as Medtech’s Most Innovative Hub?
Moderator: Amanda Pedersen, news editor, MD+DI/Informa Markets
Panelists: Nikhil Murdeshwar, Senior Principal Research Engineer at Olympus Surgical Technologies America
Dave Saunders, Chief Technology Officer at Galen Robotics
Cristin Moran, Ph.D., CEO, Growth Sciences

1:00 to 1:45 p.m.
Panel: Exploring the Connection Between Your Manufacturing Process & Patient Safety
Moderator: Connie Conboy, director, MedAccred
Panelists: Ann Sheldon, vp global supplier quality, Medtronic
Scott Goolsbey, supplier controls manager, Stryker

2:00 to 2:45 p.m.
MedFuse IoT Topic To Be Determined (TBD)
Speaker TBD

3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
MedFuse IoT Topic TBD
Speaker TBD

4:00 to 4:45 p.m.
Panel: Improving Your Speed to Market by Streamlining Process Validation
Moderator: Erik Sherburne, quality manager, Advanced Molding Technologies
Panelists: Chad Baber, senior metrology specialist, Advanced Molding Technologies
Casey Strong, site manager, Zeiss

What: Engineering HQ Theater (free to all expo attendees)
When: Wed., Oct. 23
Where: Booth 744

10:15 to 11:00 a.m.
IoPP (Institute of Packaging Professionals): MN’s Annual Packaging Achievement Award for Top Students & Packaging Schools

11:15 to 12:00 p.m.
Sponsored Session: Protolabs & PolyOne

12:15 to 1:00 p.m.
Panel: The Brave New World of Robotics
Rob Spiegel, senior editor, Design News/Informa Markets

1:15 to 2:00 p.m.
How New Materials Are Revolutionizing 3D Printing
Jack Heslin, president/founder, 3D TechTalks

2:15 to 3:00 p.m.
Sensor Advancements Driving IIoT Innovation
Sai Yamanoor, IoT R&D applications engineer, Praxair
Srihari Yamanoor, president, DesignAbly

3:15 to 4:00 p.m.
Prepping for the 5G Factory
Joshua Ness, senior manager, 5G Labs, Verizon

4:15 to 5:00 p.m.
Preparing for AI on the Manufacturing Floor
Sai Yamanoor, IoT R&D applications engineer, Praxair
Srihari Yamanoor, president, DesignAbly

What: Tech Theatre (free to all expo attendees)
When: Wed., Oct. 23
Where: Booth 2509

11:00 a.m. to Noon
Becoming Compliant with the MDRs, A Real Life Case Study
Speaker TBD

What: MD&M Conference (paid): Research & Development - Track A
When: Thurs., Oct. 24
Where: Room 208AB

8:30 to 9:10 a.m.
Keynote: Going for Zero: Bringing Technology Closer to Patients
Ranndy Kellogg, president/CEO, Omron Healthcare Inc.

9:15 to 10:00 a.m.
Next-Gen Innovation in Material Choices
Jackie Anim, principal material engineer, Ethicon & OneMD (JNJ)

10:15 to 11:00 a.m.
Failure is Not an Option: Overcoming Materials and Coating Challenges for Implantable Devices
Jay Jayashankar, materials and process development engineer, Cardiovascular Systems Inc.

11:00 to 11:45 a.m.
Managing Biocompatibility Risk: Applying the New ISO 10993 Standards
Speaker TBD

1:30 to 2:45 p.m.
Strategic Partnerships with Big Medtech: What Medical Device Manufacturers Need to Know
Mike Gillespie, director, business development, Johnson & Johnson

3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Panel: Research, Develop, Produce & Repeat: Making the Most of Your Research Funding
Lars Oddsson, Ph.D., chief technology officer and co-founder, RxFunction
Panelists: Paul Wagner, chairman/CEO, MN Wire
Ed Hlavka, president, EH Consulting

What: MD&M Conference (paid): Product Development - Track B
When: Thurs., Oct. 24
Where: Room 206AB

8:30 to 9:10 a.m.
Keynote: Going for Zero: Bringing Technology Closer to Patients
Ranndy Kellogg, president/CEO, Omron Healthcare Inc.

9:15 to 10:00 a.m.
Point/Counterpoint: Device Development—Slick Function or Fancy Form?
Tom Kramer, president/CEO, Kablooe Design
Len Czuba, president, Czuba Enterprises Inc.
Steve Goedeke, president/CEO, Cardionomic

10:15 to 11:45 a.m.
Panel: The Art & Science of Prototyping on the Path to Approving Great Products
Moderator: Erik Scott, director and technical fellow, Medtronic
Panelists: Danny Gelfman, senior principal solutions designer-Healthcare Innovation Team, Medtronic
Andrew DiMeo, innovation and design coach, Trig
Yair Safriel, MD, chief medical officer, Pharmascan LLC

1:30 to 2:45 p.m.
Effectively Using MLM Principles for Better Product Designs
Mihir Shah, founder/CEO, UE LifeSciences

3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Better Practices for Transitioning from Design to Manufacturing
Janet Whipple, partner, medical devices and invitro-diagnostics, Validant

What: MD&M Conference (paid): Quality & Manufacturing - Track C
When: Thurs., Oct. 24
Where: Room 207AB

8:30 to 9:10 a.m.
Keynote: Going for Zero: Bringing Technology Closer to Patients
Ranndy Kellogg, president/CEO, Omron Healthcare Inc.

9:15 to 10:00 a.m.
Automation Challenges Slowing the Advance of IIoT in Manufacturing
Lou Zhang, chief data scientist, Machine Metrics

10:15 to 11:00 a.m.
Best Practices for Implementing Sensors & AI in Your Medical Device Manufacturing Efforts
John Danese, industry director, Life Sciences, Birlasoft

11:00 to 11:45 a.m.
Making Connections: Integrating Production with Quality
Bob DePalma, vp, regulatory affairs, Pyrexar Medical Inc.
Terrance Holbrook, director of product, MasterControl

1:30 to 2:45 p.m.
Making Impossible Parts: Injection Molding & 3D Printing Combined for Complex Shapes
Rich Oles, president/CEO, ALBA Enterprises

3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Panel: Implementing Manufacturing Automation: Tips & Tools for Integrating Smart Manufacturing Technology
Moderator: Christopher Wiltz, senior editor, Design News/Informa Markets
Panelist: Scott Bliss, vp of operations and COO, Innovize

What: Medtech Central Theatre (free to all expo attendees)
When: Thurs., Oct. 24
Where: Booth 1947

10:25 to 11:00 a.m.
Women’s Health Innovation for the Developing World
Mihir Shah, founder/CEO, UE LifeSciences

11:00 to 11:45 a.m.
Fireside Chat with Randy Kellogg and Dave Albert, MD
Moderator: Daphne Allen, editor-in-chief, MD+DI/Informa Markets
Ranndy Kellogg, president/CEO, Omron Healthcare Inc.
Dave Albert, MD, founder and chief medical officer, Alivecor

12:00 to 12:45 p.m.
Interactive Experience: Try It Yourself - Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), & Three-Dimensional (3D) Printing at Mayo Clinic
Amy Alexander, senior biomedical engineer, Radiology, Anatomic Modeling Laboratory, Mayo Clinic

1:00 to 1:45 p.m.
Implantable Therapeutic Devices: Designing for Patients, Physicians & Payors
Yair Safriel, MD, chief medical officer, Pharmascan LLC

2:00 to 2:45 p.m.
User Interfaces for Wearable Technologies - How Small Is Too Small?
Speaker TBD

3:00 to 3:45 p.m.
Demonstration: Developing & Manufacturing a Surgical Robot: Partnership Strategies for Successful Launch
Kal Fishman, chief technology officer, Sensus Healthcare
Corey Ryan, manager–medical robotics, North America, KUKA Robotics

What: Engineering HQ Theater (free to all expo attendees)
When: Thurs., Oct. 24
Where: Booth 744

10:15 to 11:00 a.m.
Panel: So You Want to Start a Start-up
Speakers TBD

11:00 to 12:00 p.m.
Topic TBD
Speaker TBD

12:15 to 1:00 p.m.
Panel: Is Your Resume Better than a Robot’s?
Rob Spiegel, senior editor, Design News/Informa Markets

1:15 to 2:00 p.m.
Panel: The Current Benefits & Future Value of Generative Design
Rob Spiegel, senior editor, Design News/Informa Markets

2:15 to 3:00 p.m.
Consumer Packaging: Why Big Brands Are Revisiting the Milkman Model
Tony Rossi, vp, global business development, Loop

3:15 to 4:00 p.m.
3D Printing & Blockchain: The Next Steps in Additive Manufacturing
Jack Heslin, president/founder, 3D TechTalks

About the Author(s)

Lisa McTigue Pierce

Executive Editor, Packaging Digest

Lisa McTigue Pierce is Executive Editor of Packaging Digest. She’s been a packaging media journalist since 1982 and tracks emerging trends, new technologies, and best practices across a spectrum of markets for the publication’s global community. Reach her at [email protected] or 630-272-1774.

Sign up for the Packaging Digest News & Insights newsletter.

You May Also Like