Solving Challenges in Structural Heart Devices with Advanced Biomaterials
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About this webinar
Structural heart therapies continue to advance rapidly, but increasingly complex device designs create equally complex material challenges. Transcatheter heart valves, left atrial appendage closure devices, septal closure systems and their delivery platforms must balance competing requirements, including durability, hemocompatibility, sealing, low profile, flexibility, precise deployment and manufacturability. No single material property solves these challenges in isolation. This webinar explores how advanced biomaterials and material engineering can help address critical structural heart device challenges and inform device development strategies.
The discussion will focus on four key challenges facing device developers and medical practitioners in structural heart applications:
- Perimeter leakage: A strong seal around the perimeter of implanted devices is critical to preventing blood from reversing flow around the device
- Leaflet degradation and stenosis: Valve leaflets must be strong, durable and resistant to calcium accumulation
- Thrombus resistance: Thrombus formation on device surfaces can lead to stroke and downstream complications
- Navigation and delivery: Complex anatomy and tortuous paths can create significant challenges to accurate device placement
This panel will explore how advanced biomaterials and material engineering can become an integral part of structural heart device design, rather than simply a material-selection decision made later in development. Panelists will discuss how thermoplastic polyurethanes, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers and membranes, extracellular matrices, lubricious coatings and composite technologies can help address these critical device challenges.
Attention will be given to emerging approaches such as polymeric valve leaflets, where thermoplastic polyurethanes and reinforced composites offer opportunities to improve fatigue performance, resistance to calcification, hemocompatibility, manufacturability and valve longevity. The discussion will also examine low-profile fabrics and membranes for valve skirts and frame coverings, tunable extracellular matrices for tissue-facing applications, hydrophilic coatings and low-friction materials that can improve the delivery of increasingly complex transcatheter systems.
Additionally, the panel will consider a broader question: How can device developers and biomaterial experts collaborate earlier to solve clinical and engineering challenges at the system level? By integrating materials science with device architecture, processing, testing, regulatory strategy and manufacturing, developers can expand the design space and create structural heart technologies that are more durable, deliverable, scalable and responsive to evolving clinical needs.
Register for this webinar to learn how advanced biomaterials can help overcome structural heart device challenges and support more effective design, development and manufacturing strategies.
Who should attend
- Executive Leadership: Chief Technology Officers, Chief Innovation Officers, VPs of R&D, Engineering and Innovation
- R&D and Engineering: Directors, Managers and Engineers in R&D, Design Engineering, Device Development and Product Development
- Biomaterials and Materials Science: Directors, Scientists and Engineers specializing in biomaterials, materials science and polymer engineering
- Specialized Engineering: Surface Scientists, Coatings Engineers, Textile Engineers, Fiber/Fabric Engineers, Catheter Engineers and Delivery System Engineers
- Manufacturing and Process Development: Extrusion Engineers, Process Development Engineers and Manufacturing Development Engineers
What you will learn
- Key biomaterial challenges in structural heart devices, including paravalvular leakage, leaflet durability, thrombogenicity, tissue integration and transcatheter delivery
- How advanced biomaterials address device challenges, including medical-grade polyurethanes, UHMWPE fibers and membranes, extracellular matrices, hydrophilic coatings and composite material systems
- Emerging approaches to next-generation heart valves, including polymeric and composite leaflets designed to improve durability, hemocompatibility, calcification resistance, low-profile crimping and manufacturability
- The importance of early collaboration between device engineers and biomaterial experts, and how integrating material selection, processing, device architecture, testing, manufacturing and regulatory strategy can accelerate development of structural heart technologies
Featured Speakers
(Moderator) Jim Keegan
Jim Keegan is the Director of Vascular Strategic Marketing with the Biomedical division of dsm-firmenich where he focuses on aligning advanced biomaterial portfolios to critical needs in cardiovascular medical devices. He has more than 30 years of experience in the medical field, mostly in marketing and strategy leadership roles in the medical device space with companies including Haemonetics, CR Bard, Spectranetics, Philips and Rapid Medical. Jim has worked with devices in a wide variety of clinical applications, including blood processing, hernia and abdominal wall reconstruction, breast reconstruction, biopsy and vascular access. For the past 10 years, his work has been focused on cardiovascular interventions, including peripheral vascular, coronary, neurovascular and structural heart applications. He holds a BSc from Harvard College and an MBA from Columbia Business School.
Benjamin Kibalo
Benjamin Kibalo is Senior Manager, Global Technical Marketing at dsm-firmenich Biomedical, bringing more than 25 years of experience in biomedical technology, including over 18 years focused on naturally derived biomaterials. His career spans R&D, process and product development, operations and technical marketing, with deep expertise in advancing collagen and extracellular matrix technologies from development through medical device commercialization. Benjamin holds a BSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of Delaware and works closely with medical device innovators to translate biomaterial technologies into practical solutions that support product development and commercialization.
Mark Hazzard
Mark Hazzard is Senior Manager, Technical Product Marketing for Polyethylene Technology at dsm-firmenich Biomedical, bringing extensive experience in biomedical materials, research and product development. During his nine-year career with DSM and dsm-firmenich, he has held roles in corporate research and biomedical, including as a Senior Scientist, developing deep expertise in polyethylene technologies and their medical applications. Mark holds an MEng in Aerospace Engineering and a PhD focused on composite materials using UHMWPE fibers from the University of Bristol. Today, he works to support the adoption of polyethylene materials in medical devices and accelerate the application of new technologies.
Jayme Paullin
Jayme Paullin is Manager, Global Technical Marketing for Polymeric Solutions at dsm-firmenich Biomedical, with more than 15 years of experience across innovation, quality and commercial roles within the biomedical industry. She brings a strong scientific background and a passion for connecting technical expertise with customer needs. Jayme holds a BSc in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and an MSc in Analytical Chemistry. In her current role, she works closely with customers and multidisciplinary teams to develop tailored polymeric solutions that address the evolving needs of medical device development and modern healthcare.
Partner for this event
dsm-firmenich
As innovators in nutrition, health, and beauty, dsm-firmenich reinvents, manufactures, and combines vital nutrients, flavors, and fragrances for the world’s growing population to thrive.
At Biomedical, our purpose is to Elevate Global Health. We collaborate with global healthcare partners to co-create evidence-based solutions that address complex challenges, improve patient outcomes, and expand access to innovative healthcare worldwide. Together, we bring progress to life every day, everywhere, for millions of people.
To learn more, visit dsm-firmenich.com/biomedical.