The purpose of a tutorial is to teach the attendees about a specific technology or focus area. Tutorials are free of charge, but SFB requests that attendees indicate their intention to attend on the registration form.

• Advancements in Surface Characterization Methods
• Product Liability Law as Part of the Product Design Process: What Every Scientist Should Know

Advances in Surface Characterization Methods
(Surface Characterization and Modification SIG)
As surface modifications to induce specific biological responses become more subtle, surface characterization methods must necessarily become more sophisticated. This tutorial will survey recent advances in surface characterization techniques that can detect such subtle features as molecular orientations and submonolayer adsorbed species. Speakers will address several areas of development including: sum frequency generation (SFG), near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM), and synchrotronbased x-ray absorption techniques such as near edge x-ray absorption for fine structure (NEXAFS), imaging NEXAFS, and variable energy x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. New activity to increase the sensitivity of time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) will also be presented. This includes work using cluster ion beam sources to generate the secondary ions, deposition of MALDI matrix molecules onto the surface (matrix-enhanced SIMS), and gold deposition onto the surface (metal-enhanced SIMS). Presenters will emphasize the strengths and limitations of each technique, why one might choose a given tool over others, important details regarding sample preparation, and the benefits of applying surface analysis methods in combination. This session is being co-sponsored by the American Vacuum Society.

Product Liability Law as Part of the Product Design Process: What Every Scientist Should Know
(Biomaterial Availability and Policy SIG)
Learn realistic product design principles to build in success against product liability lawsuits. Device designers can take realistic steps to enhance the success of a product against product liability challenges. And businesses can use specific principles to manage product liability lawsuit risks. This tutorial will explain the legal principles that underpin medical product liability law and realistic design principles that anticipate potential legal challenges. Legal experts in medical device design and experienced designers will describe best practices for medical device design with respect to product liability. The tutorial is intended to provide scientists with tools they want and need to make the best products possible.