11th COMPAMED Spring Convention: Microfluidics is the basis for innovative medical technology

The 11^th COMPAMED Spring Convention on May 3 in Frankfurt focused on microfluidics, an essential aspect of advanced medical technology. As a so-called "enabling technology", microfluidics is an indispensable technical prerequisite for mobile diagnostics, but also for fast and cost-effective laboratory analyzes.
 
The conference provided insights into the state of technology and general trends, in manufacturing methods for microfluidic systems and in products and processes such as "BioMEMS" and "Cell Handling", which can only be implemented with the help of microfluidics.
 
The "Fabrication" session dealt with the variety of technologies – including 3D printing and injection molding – and the wide variety of materials such as ceramics, glass and plastics that can be used in the production of microfluidic systems. The challenge of lacking standardization of fluidic and electronic interfaces was also addressed in discussions.
 
In medical technology, as in many other areas, there is a trend towards digitalization. Enabled by microfluidics, for instance, body fluids such as sweat can be collected, analyzed, automatically evaluated and the data passed on to the mobile phone.
 
The COMPAMED Spring Convention has been organized by the IVAM Microtechnology Network and supported by Messe Düsseldorf once a year since 2007. The forum gives a preview of the COMPAMED trade fair in November. There, exhibitors will revert to the important topic of microfluidics in medical technology on the Product Market "High-tech for Medical Devices" and the accompanying "COMPAMED HIGH-TECH FORUM".
 
In its 11^th year, the COMPAMED Spring Convention addressed an international audience and was held in English for the first time. About 50 experts from various European countries attended the conference.