MD&M West, an MD&M Event
February 3–5, 2026
Anaheim Convention Center – Anaheim, CA
www.mdmwest.com
Medtech Innovation Takes Center Stage
Returning to Anaheim this February, MD&M West 2026 brings the global medical device community together for three days of engineering insight, manufacturing expertise, and technology breakthroughs. As one of the largest gatherings of medtech professionals in North America, the event showcases the full spectrum of product development — from early-stage design and materials selection to automation, testing, packaging, and regulatory readiness.
With hundreds of exhibitors, a multi-track education program, and dedicated opportunities for hands-on learning, MD&M West is built for engineers, R&D leaders, product teams, and innovators who are shaping the next generation of healthcare solutions. Whether you’re advancing a new class of wearable, scaling a smart manufacturing line, integrating sensors and connectivity, or navigating an evolving regulatory landscape, the show offers direct access to the tools, expertise, and partnerships that turn ambitious ideas into commercial reality.
KEYNOTES:
Tuesday, February 3
9–10 AM,Level 3 Ballroom
Lauren Dunford
CEO and Co-Founder, Guidewheel
AI Without the Hype: Real Results in Manufacturing
This keynote cuts through the buzz to show how manufacturers are actually using AI — not as a gimmick, but as a powerful tool to improve real outcomes on the factory floor. Lauren Dunford will present concrete examples of how data-driven, AI-powered “FactoryOps” strategies have helped companies slash downtime, boost first-pass yield, and elevate throughput — all while maintaining compliance and sustainability standards. The session includes a detailed case study from Johnson & Johnson, offering attendees a clear, actionable playbook they can apply to their own operations. For medtech manufacturers facing cost pressures, regulatory demands, and complexity — this session offers a grounded and immediate path to harnessing AI for better reliability, quality, and efficiency.
Wednesday, February 4 9–10 AM, Level 3 Ballroom
Omar Khateeb
CEO, State of MedTech (Moderator)
Raymond Cohen
Former CEO, Axonics
Tom West
President and CEO, Nalu Medical, Inc.
Disrupting the Status Quo: Are We Innovating or Just Iterating?
This candid panel challenges attendees to question whether the medtech industry is truly innovating — or simply iterating on existing ideas. The discussion will delve into tough issues such as the ethical implications of prioritizing profitability over patient care, whether regulatory frameworks inhibit or foster real breakthroughs, and if emerging players (start-ups or tech-driven firms) might outpace traditional manufacturers. The impact of AI — as either enabler or disruptor — will also be debated. Expect thoughtful arguments, provocative insights, and strategic reflection about where the industry is heading. For senior executives, product strategists, R&D leaders, and anyone involved in long-term planning — this keynote offers a rare, high-level take on where medtech might be going, and whether current practices are enough to meet future challenges.
Keynote Networking Breakfast
Tuesday and Wednesday 8–9 AM, Level 3 Ballroom
Before the day’s sessions begin, this breakfast event gives attendees a chance to connect with engineers, executives, solution providers, and potential partners — all over coffee and pastries. It’s an informal but strategic moment to align schedules, book meetings, and make valuable industry contacts even before the show floor opens.
MUST-SEE SESSIONS
February 3 10:15–11 AM, Medtech Conference
Michael Springer
Independent Medtech Innovation and Commercialization Leader
From Signal to Breakthrough: How EM Sensors Are Powering the Next Generation of Medical Devices
The neurotechnology field is accelerating, and electromagnetic (EM) sensors are at its core. EM sensors are no longer experimental or niche; they are fast becoming essential to next-generation medical devices that sense, stimulate, and interact directly with the brain.
From minimally invasive brain-computer interfaces to intelligent diagnostic implants, EM microcoils, resonant probes, and sensor arrays are enabling transformative use cases: real-time neural mapping, closed-loop therapeutic systems, and wireless precision implants for stroke, epilepsy, depression, and more. But bringing these innovations to the market isn’t simple. Designing for performance is only one piece of the puzzle; teams must also engineer for MRI compatibility, EMI shielding, ultra-low power, biocompatibility, and scalable manufacturing.
This session invites medtech engineers, product developers, and strategy leaders to rethink EM sensors as more than clever hardware. They are systems-level enablers, and realizing their potential requires deep cross-disciplinary collaboration between sensor developers, materials scientists, contract manufacturers, and clinical end-users. Drawing on real-world insights from miniaturized EM sensor programs at Intricon and beyond, Springer’s talk will inspire attendees to think differently about the design, integration, and impact of EM sensors in the future of connected neurohealth.
February 3 11:15 AM –12 PM, Medtech Conference
Brian Charlesworth
CEO and Founder, Ultraviolet
How AI Is Transforming Medical Device Design and Development — And How to Implement It in Your R&D
AI is revolutionizing the way medical devices are designed, developed, and brought to market — from groundbreaking surgical tools to next-gen health wearables. In this session, Charlesworth shares how innovative teams are harnessing AI to drive faster product development, improve patient outcomes, and optimize clinical processes — and how teams like yours can use AI to change how we think of medical devices.
Attendees will discover how AI is enabling smarter design, accelerating iterations, and analyzing massive amounts of data to unlock new possibilities. Learn how R&D teams are using AI to scale feedback loops, making devices more user-friendly and improving accessibility for patients.
Most importantly, the session will provide an understanding of how AI possibilities can inspire your own team and organization’s product ideation, current device augmentation and medical device development. With actionable strategies and real-world examples, you’ll learn how to implement AI to drive success and stay ahead of the curve.
In an industry where innovation is constant, those who do not embrace AI will likely be left behind. This session is designed to equip attendees with the tools and mindset needed to lead your team in adopting AI, transforming your processes, and staying competitive in the fast-evolving medtech landscape.
February 3 1:15–2 PM, Medtech Conference
Michael Springer
Independent Medtech Innovation and Commercialization Leader
The Needle Boom: Scaling Overmolded Needle Manufacturing for the At-Home Care Revolution
Self-injection therapies and wearable drug delivery systems have gone mainstream, bringing with them a surging demand for precision needle-based components. From blockbuster injectables like Ozempic to next-gen wearables like Biolinq, OEMs and their manufacturing partners are being pushed to scale fast and smart. Overmolded needles are central to this transformation. While not new, these micro-assemblies are now being radically repurposed for high-frequency, patient-operated devices that must meet unprecedented performance and volume demands.
This session explores how the contract manufacturing ecosystem is adapting — from automation strategies and cleanroom expansion to raw material supply-chain strategies. Drawing from CDMO experiences — doubling orders for overmolded needle assemblies in under a year — speaker Mike Springer will share practical strategies for scaling precision medical device manufacturing for today’s at-home care revolution.
Designed for OEM engineers, supply-chain leaders, and medtech developers, this talk offers a real-world look at what it takes to deliver miniaturized, injectable drug-delivery systems at commercial scale — while balancing quality, compliance, and cost.
February 3 2:15–3 PM, Medtech Conference
James Fox
Vice President, StarFish Medical
AI + Human Factors: The Next Frontier in Device Usability Engineering
As product development teams expand their use of AI, human factors engineering is undergoing significant changes. This talk will explore how AI, particularly machine learning and generative tools, is augmenting the design and validation of medical device user interfaces, from concept through formative and summative testing. The session examines case examples using predictive modeling of user errors, automated usability test script generation, and real-time analysis of qualitative usability data. Fox will also address how AI can improve accessibility and support inclusive design for diverse patient and clinician populations. Last, the session will cover regulatory compliance under ISO 62366 and FDA guidance when AI is involved in human factors activities — and where traceability becomes critical.
This topic targets engineers, designers, QA/RA leads, and product managers, offering tangible examples of AI in development, paired with human factors best practices in medtech.
February 3 3–3:45 PM, Advanced Manufacturing Stage
Tim Stuart
President, Visual Decisions
Blueprint for the Future: Crafting a Smart Manufacturing Strategy That Works
In today’s rapidly evolving industrial landscape, manufacturers are under increasing pressure to adopt smarter, data-driven approaches to remain competitive, resilient, and responsive. Yet many organizations struggle to translate the promise of smart manufacturing into measurable outcomes. The session cuts through the hype and offers a practical roadmap for building a digital transformation strategy that is both visionary and executable.
This presentation explores how smart manufacturing can connect people, processes, and technology to create agile operations and sustainable value. Attendees will learn how to align digital initiatives with Lean principles, operational excellence, and business strategy, ensuring that efforts deliver real impact on productivity, quality, and responsiveness. The session will cover real-world case studies and the proven, industry-standard CESMII framework (a smart manufacturing acceleration roadmap).
Whether you’re just beginning your digital journey or seeking to recalibrate your current efforts, this session is designed to empower attendees with actionable insights and a customizable blueprint to accelerate transformation and achieve long-term success in the era of Industry 4.0.
February 4 10:15–11 AM, Medtech Conference
Ashkon Rasooli
Principal and Founder, EnGenius Solutions
GenMLP: Good Machine Learning Practices for Generative AI
Are you a medical device manufacturer looking to incorporate generative AI into your medical device? Maybe you have thought of non-medical device application for generative AI in the healthcare setting? Regardless of the application, GenAI is prone to a number of unique categories of failure that can be controlled through upfront design and postdeployment assurance.
This presentation provides comprehensive guidance for healthcare organizations implementing generative AI technologies, addressing the unique safety, validation, and regulatory challenges that these systems present. Healthcare executives, clinical informaticists, AI developers, quality assurance professionals, and regulatory affairs specialists will gain practical frameworks for deploying large language models, multimodal AI systems, and foundation models in clinical settings while ensuring patient safety and regulatory compliance. Attendees will learn evidence-based strategies for hallucination mitigation, prompt engineering, adversarial robustness, and human-AI collaboration that enable successful generative AI adoption in healthcare environments.
February 4 11:15 AM –12 PM, Medtech Conference
Srividya Narayanan
MDS, MSc, Northeastern University
Cybersecurity by Design: Navigating FDA’s Evolving Requirements for Connected Medical Devices
This session provides a comprehensive exploration of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) latest regulatory framework for securing medical devices throughout their lifecycle. This presentation will unpack the June 27, 2025, final guidance — “Cybersecurity in Medical Devices: Quality System Considerations and Content of Premarket Submissions” — which introduces explicit requirements under Section 524B of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act for all “cyber devices” that include software and connect to the Internet.
Attendees will learn how to integrate a Secure Product Development Framework (SPDF) into design controls, develop and maintain Software Bills of Materials (SBOMs), implement risk-based vulnerability monitoring and management plans, and satisfy new labeling and postmarket update obligations. Real-world examples will illustrate best practices in embedding cybersecurity from initial concept through postmarket surveillance, ensuring that devices are resilient against emerging threats and compliant with mandatory FDA criteria.
February 4 1–1:45 PM, Advanced Manufacturing Stage
Justin Starbird
President and CEO, The Aebli Group
Crowdfunding Success for Medtech and Manufacturing Start-Ups: How to Get Started
Crowdfunding isn’t just for consumer gadgets anymore. Medtech, manufacturing, and all kinds of B2B companies are increasingly turning to equity crowdfunding platforms, such as Wefunder, to raise capital, build brand awareness, and validate market demand — all while, most importantly, keeping their mission front and center. Unlike traditional fundraising, success in crowdfunding requires a different strategy, mindset, and playbook.
In this practical session, Starbird will guide attendees through the key steps to launching and executing a successful B2B crowdfunding campaign. He will be joined by a special guest who has already achieved success in this area, with a special focus on the unique challenges and opportunities facing start-ups.
From compliance and storytelling to community building and conversion tactics, you’ll leave with a blueprint of the process, increasing your chances of standing out and securing funding. Attendees will learn:
Why crowdfunding makes sense for B2B medtech start-ups right now.
How the Wefunder (and other) platform works, and what sets them apart.
The five most critical steps to a successful campaign.
Tips to avoid common pitfalls that sink fundraising efforts.
Whether you’re gearing up for your first raise or looking to refine your approach, this session will equip you with actionable insights to crowdfund your medtech vision confidently.
NETWORKING AND SPECIAL EVENTS
Quick-Connect Speed Networking — Fast, targeted one-on-one meetings designed to help engineers, suppliers, and innovators make high-value connections in minutes.
Women in MedTech Meetup — A dedicated gathering space for women across product development, engineering, leadership, and regulatory roles to share insights and build community.
Guided Expo Floor Tours — Curated routes highlighting key technologies including automation, AI-enabled manufacturing, advanced materials, and next-generation sensors.
Innovation Showcase — A special area featuring breakthrough prototypes, novel materials, and emerging technologies shaping the future of device design and manufacturing.
Device Diaries Experience — A storytelling installation where product journeys, patient stories, and design challenges come to life through immersive displays.
Lunch & Learns/Coffee Chats — Casual, content-driven meetups hosted in theater spaces across the expo floor, offering quick insights into emerging engineering and manufacturing topics.
Exhibitor Booth Crawl — An end-of-day walk-through of featured booths offering demonstrations, product previews, and opportunities to meet engineering teams and solution providers.
