Biomedical Textiles: From Fibers to Life-Saving Devices

Textiles play a unique and often hidden role in implantable medical devices, where fibers and fabrics are engineered to provide functions such as sealing, reinforcement, protection, and scaffolding for tissue ingrowth. This presentation will introduce key design principles for translating textile structures into implantable components for medical device. The talk will illustrate how weaving, knitting, braiding, 3D textile construction, and finishing technologies can be tailored to solve specific medical-device design challenges. Through practical examples, it will highlight lessons learned in balancing performance, ease of manufacturing, and business value. 

Dr. Ting He is a Senior Principal Engineer and Textile Subject Matter Expert in R&D at Edwards Lifesciences, specializing in the development and commercialization of advanced textile technologies for structural heart disease devices. With a Ph.D. in Fiber and Polymer Science from North Carolina State University, Dr. He brings expertise in tissue engineering, biomedical textile design, fabric engineering, and manufacturing processes development. Prior to joining Edwards, Dr. He spent six years at The LYCRA Company in End Use Research Representatives in apparel business, driving fiber, yarn, and fabric innovations and supporting global product launches across the textile value chain. Dr. He is an inventor with multiple patents and invention records, an author of technical publications and books, and an active contributor to the textile community through invited lectures and professional conferences.