Master Class in Nano Bio-Manufacturing

Course details

The medical device industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world today and one of the most exciting in Singapore. The strong growth has been due to two key drivers:

1. Singapore’s aging population - Singapore is set to be the world’s third fastest aging nation due to the relatively low birth rate and high-quality health care. The proportion of those aged 65 and above will double to 20 per cent by 2020.
2. The recession-resistant nature of the healthcare industry - The need for life-saving healthcare is an essential service, regardless of the economic climate.

The first heart pacemaker and the first modern hip replacement were both developed in the early 1960s. However, over the next 40 years, progress in the field remained relatively slow. It was only in recent years that the industry has witnessed exponential growth with innovation in medical devices. A broad range of high value-add implantable medical devices have either already appeared in the market or are currently under development.

Advanced joint replacement devices, smart heart pacemakers, bionic ear implants, left ventricular assist devices (heart booster pumps), sleep-apnea devices, low-invasive spinal nucleus replacements, as well as deep-brain stimulators for treating disorders like Parkinson’s disease and depression are now readily available the market. In the near future, we can expect to see the first bionic eye implants and mind-controlled prostheses for paraplegics and quadriplegics. With the rise of tissue engineering innovations, the manufacture of organs from the genome of the patient will become possible within a few decades, eliminating the need for donor organs. The commercial opportunities in the field are many. However, manufacturing medical devices and bringing them to market involve a number of challenges unique to the sector, and this can often prove challenging to those not familiar with the niche.

This course aims to teach participants about the scope and possibilities of the medical devices industry and the unique skills required in medical device commercialisation.

Why This Course

The primary focus of this Master Class will be on high-value-added implantable medical devices. The course will cover the knowledge required for clinicians, manufacturers, and entrepreneurs to move into the field of medical devices manufacturing and commercialisation.

What You will Learn

Day 1

• The global implantable medical device industry
• A look into the future: Implantable medical device innovations for the 21st century and beyond
• The biological response to implantable medical devices
• Biological testing of medical devices

Day 2

• Biomaterials: Materials used to manufacture medical devices
• Overview of advanced manufacturing technologies

Day 3

• Overview of commercialisation process for medical devices
• Case studies in medical device commercialisation

Day 4

• Practical Demonstrations