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Expert to address catheter-based medical technology

 Acclaimed technology expert John E. Abele will deliver the second annual Biomedical Innovation Lecture at 4 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 2 at Baruch Auditorium.

Abele, who is the founder chairman of Boston Scientific, has been driving the advancement of catheter-based medical technology for more than 30 years. His company develops, manufactures and markets less invasive medical devices for use in a broad range of interventional medical specialities.

The annual lecture is sponsored by the MUSC Foundation for Research Development. Abele will speak about managing research and technology development within medicine and handling communications. The event will also recognize 18 outstanding MUSC scientists and inventors who have been awarded U.S. government patents within the last few years.

“Mr. Abele brings a different perspective of industry successes to campus,” said Ken Roozen, Ph.D., executive director of the foundation. “His work bridges the gap between science and industry.”

A graduate of Amherst College in Amherst, Mass., Abele is one of the pioneers of less invasive medicine. Through a small research and development company, Medi-tech Inc., Abele saw the development of important medical products including the steerable catheter in 1969. Steerable catheters drew international praise for being used successfully within arteries, veins kidneys, the digestive tract and other passageways.

Abele was one of the founders of the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), a society that challenged doctors, engineers and manufacturers to develop standards, improve communication and organize biomedical education. Abele was director of this organization for 12 years. 
 In 1979, Abele co-founded Boston Scientific Corporation to help develop and create innovative medical breakthrough products. The company sells more than 10,000 products in more than 50 category lines and posts annual revenues in excess of $2 billion.

Abele is the owner of 17 patents and the author of many publications and articles on medical technology devices. He has been associated with the technical developments of many products including implantable pacemakers, artificial kidneys, balloon dilation catheters and numerous interventional devices.