Alexi R. Khokhlov, Professor; Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia

• An overview lecture outlining the different types of polymers used in hydrogels and their corresponding structures and physical / chemical properties. In other words, the features that make a hydrogel a hydrogel.

Søren Hvidt, Associate Professor; Roskilde University Centre, Roskilde, Denmark

• Dealing with measuring methods, definition of gels and the gel-point, examples of chemical and physical gels, network theory, chain dynamics, strain and stress dependency of gels, relaxation testing and finally considerations regarding the design of tests in practice.

Ture Kindt-Larsen, Technical Director; Chempilots a/s, Farum Denmark

• Using soft contact lenses as examples of hydrogels, where demands are made on their physical integrity and dimensional stability, well controlled chemistry and purity and other challenges.

Richard Schmidt, R&D Manager; Chempilots a/s, Farum, Denmark

• Multifaceted hydrogels illustrated by selected case studies from Chempilots experiences.

Jacqueline de Groot, Polymer Scientist, Pharmacia Groningen BV, Groningen, The Netherlands

• Aqueous solutions of reactive polymers in combination with a water soluble blue light photoinitiator are transformed into hydrogels by irradiation with blue light.

Peter Sommer-Larsen, Senior Scientist; Danish Polymer Centre, Risø, Roskilde, Denmark

• Outlining the type of polymers used, physical and chemical characteristics, electrical and mechanical performance and future developments.

David Avril; Don & Low Ltd, Angus, Scotland

• Use of spunbond in medical applications and specific fabric requirements.
• Identification and measurement of important fabric properties.
• Influence of raw materials and manufacturing processes.
• Future developments in continuous filament spunbond fabrics.

Ing-Mari Pettersson; Dow Deutschland, Rheinmünster, Germany

• Structures and properties.
• Applications in medical collection bags.
• Applications in inflatable devices.
• Thermal lamination: providing HF weldability to otherwise non-HF responsive substrates such as non-wovens, fabrics and foams.

John R Svalander; ECVM, Brussels, Belgium

• Is PVC a "Black Sheep" amongst plastics?
• Safeguarding facts in an emotional and political debate!
• PVC in lifesaving applications! 

Leif Eskildsen; LESNI A/S, Billund, Denmark

• Air purification plants.
• Catalytic abators.
• Activated carbon filters.
• Scrubbers.

Anne-Lise Høg Lejre; Danish Technological Institute, Taastrup, Denmark

• Ageing phenomena
• Models for ageing
• Test set-up
• Lifetime predictions for medical devices
• Examples

Julie Simmons; Wells Plastics Ltd, Staffordshire, United Kingdom

• What are the issues and how can antimicrobial systems help?
• Antimicrobial systems suitable for use in plastics.
• Verifying efficacy - the test methods used.
• Application examples and results.

Heiko E Schenck; DuPont de Nemours, Bad Homburg v.d. H, Germany

• Typical properties of ECPs (EVAs, EMAs ACRs, Ionomers).
• Typical applications.
• Medical tubes, bags, gloves.
• New development projects.

Anthony Walder; Thermedics Polymer Products, MA, USA

• Polyurethanes
• Hydrophyllic Polyurethanes
• Biostable Polyurethanes
• Medical Polyurethanes- current

Anton Wolfsberger; Borealis GmbH, Linz, Austria

• Definition and segmentation of polyolefins
• Comparison PE - PP: mechanics, optics and sterilsation resistance
• Market figures
• New PP materials and applications
• Future developments

Kirsten Bundgaard-Nielsen; LR Plast A/S, Glostrup, Denmark

• Material choice for E-beam sterilisation.
• Dose setting.
• Dose reduction.
• Case: Use of dose setting for material choice.

René Fuhlendorff; MILJØ-KEMI, Dansk Miljø Center A/S, Galten, Denmark

• Types of test.
• Migration test.
• Permeation test.
• Emission test.
• Combined sensorial and chemical test.

Arne Miller; Risø National Laboratory, Roskilde, Denmark

• EU supported project.
• 50 European irradiation facilities, electron and gamma.
• Measurement uncertainty of 5-10 %.
• Guidelines for calibration of dosimeters.

Hans - Peter Heim; University of Paderborn , Paderborn, Germany

• Application of "design of experiments" (DOE) for injection moulding.
• Computer-aided analysis of experiments.
• Recording and evaluation of process data.
• Statistical process monitoring and quality assurance.
• Advantages and disadvantages of statistical methods for quality assurance in injection moulding.

Leif Persson; Nolato Medical Components AB, Lomma, Sweden

• Methods.
• Material Combinations.
• Molds.
• Machines.

Jesper Bøgelund; Coloplast, Humlebæk, Denmark

• Thermal history and the DSC thermogram.
• Welding quality and thermal history.
• Principal component analysis.
• Modelling.

Frank Kirchner; Ticona GmbH, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

• Material compatibility.
• Sterilisation stability.
• Application area.
• Advantages over metal.
• Case studies.

Mike Skalsky; AorTech Biomaterials Pty Ltd, New South Wales, Australia

• Silicones vs polyurethanes for implantable applications.
• Biostability of polyurethanes.
• Background to Elast-Eon (TM) development.
• Biostability performance.
• Processing and sterilisation. 

Phil Robinson; PerkinElmer Ltd, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom

• Overview of the modulated temperature DSC technique.
• Increasing sensitivity detection for small transitions.
• Application to processing plastic materials.
• Detection of glass transitions in thin coatings.

Jason Leadbitter; Hydro Polymers Ltd, Durham, United Kingdom

• Triple bottom line for PVC; social, economic and environmental.
• Sustainability, fine key challenges.
• Conclusions and future directions.

Anthony I Pifer; Eastman Chemical Company, Kingsport, Tennessee, USA

• Superior performance in gamma and Ethylene Oxide (ETO) sterilisation.
• Chemical resistance performance in medical applications.
• Performance in applications requiring cold forming - Swaging.
• Unique mechanical properties in medical applications.

Ron Adkins; Beta LaserMike Ltd, High Wycombe, United Kingdom

• Non-contact measurement techniques.
• Automated control of diameter and wall size.
• Off-line measurement of tube samples.
• Process improvement and reporting.

Jacob Nordan; Nordans Ark, Oslo, Norway

• The idea behind the Global Medical Device Nomenclature.
• Manufacturers role and involvement.
• Incident reporting and trend analysis.
• Trading and e-commerce.