The University of Texas at Dallas will host the first Texas Medical Device Symposium on Friday, Nov. 2.

Dr. Dinesh Bhatia

Dr. Dinesh Bhatia

The symposium provides an opportunity for the public to hear the latest findings in the field from leading academic researchers, clinicians and representatives of companies making the devices. The symposium also includes an opportunity for researchers to learn more about the federal process for getting a medical device approved for use.

“The medical industry in the United States is going through tremendous changes,” said Dr. Dinesh Bhatia, professor of electrical engineering at UT Dallas and co-chair of the symposium. “We are moving more and more toward cost-effective, connected health that uses technology to provide health care remotely, so devices are becoming extremely important in the way people are diagnosed and treated.” 

“We are moving more and more toward cost effective connected health that uses technology to provide health care remotely, so devices are becoming extremely important in the way people are diagnosed and treated.”

Dr. Dinesh Bhatia,
professor of
electrical engineering

Medical devices have evolved, and current trends include devices for pain management, neurostimulation, drug delivery and varied therapies. Artificial knees have become more intelligent, and can now provide information about how well they are doing their job – in essence talking back. The symposium will cover research challenges in building clinically viable devices, energy-aware electronics for medical devices and power and battery management for implantable devices.

Keynote speakers for the daylong event include Dr. Dan Kaiser, vice president and chief technology officer at Greatbatch, a medical and procedure device company that recently relocated its global headquarters to the Dallas area; and Stephen Van Noy, vice president of surgical intraocular lens development at Alcon Laboratories, an international maker of eye care products.

Dr. Danieli Rodrigues, associate professor of bioengineering in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, and James Ooi, doctoral student in bioengineering, are helping organize the event, which is co-sponsored by the Dallas chapter of IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society.

Symposium participants include representatives from the area universities, hospitals, schools and companies. To view the full schedule and register visit the symposium website.