Plastic Properties Enable Unique Medical Applications; Product's Versatility to Be Featured at West Coast Conference and Exhibition.

Business Editors, Health/Medical Writers

MD&M West 2003

PLASTEC West 2003

WestPack 2003

Electronics West 2003

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 2, 2002

Since 1976 plastic has been the most widely used material in the U.S. In health care, it has improved the lives of countless patients by enabling the development of medical devices that were unimaginable just twenty years ago. One of the reasons for this is plastic's unique "shape-memory" property -- the ability to deform into a temporary shape and return to the original upon heating. This property, for example, has been used to make catheters that can be inserted as a stiff plastic and softened dramatically upon reaching body temperature, drastically minimizing negative effects on adjacent tissue.

"Shape-Memory Thermoplastics for Medical Applications" will be discussed in depth by Bob Ward of The Polymer Technology Group as part of a 2-day track on biocompatible materials and design issues at the upcoming Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M) West conference program, held in conjunction with the PLASTEC West Pavilion, Pacific Design & Manufacturing, WestPack, and Electronics West. This co-located event, taking place February 18-21 at the Anaheim Convention Center, will feature several Society of Plastics Engineers sponsored conference sessions, led by industry experts, covering the role of plastic in the medical industry.

Additional speakers and topics include:

-- Nancy Hermanson of Dow Chemical discussing the "Fundamentals of Medical Plastics Selection and Evaluation." Ms. Hermanson will specifically examine thermoplastics and sterilization techniques.

-- J. Michael Cude of Polyten will cover "Designing Plastic Medical Devices for Manufacturability," focusing upon the manufacturability of medical devices at concept with particular attention given to medical-specific issues such as sterilization, biocompatibility, toxicology, and aging analysis.

In addition to the conference program, the PLASTEC West Pavilion is a key part of the co-located events' comprehensive suppliers showcase for the plastics processing industry -- including providers of primary processing machinery, auxiliary equipment, machine components, molds, mold components, and materials. Combined they will feature 3,000 exhibitors and are expected to attract more than 40,000 buyers, creating one of the world's largest business-to-business manufacturing events.

Produced and managed by CANON COMMUNICATIONS LLC, MD&M(R) West, the PLASTEC(R) West Pavilion, Pacific Design & Manufacturing(R), WestPack(R), and Electronics West(TM) are part of CANON'S worldwide family of trade events. Information on the events can be found at www.canontradeshows.com or by calling 310/445-4200.