iia at Kilmer Conference 2025

On behalf of the iia, Arthur Dumba (iia General Manager) and Thomas Kroc (iia US Representative) participated in the 2025 Kilmer Conference held from February 3–6 in Orlando, Florida. This event, sponsored by AAMI and PDA, provided a platform for collaboration between the medical device and pharmaceutical industries, with a strong focus on sterilisation science and microbiological quality assurance. The iia was pleased to engage with industry leaders and connect with members in and beyond the conference sessions.

Arthur Dumba presented ‘Considerations for the Use of Low Energy E-Beam for Sterilization’ His talk explored the benefits of low-energy electron technology (250–800 keV) for medical product sterilisation, including its compact, self-shielding design, inline integration potential, and high dose rates. He also addressed key considerations such as infrastructure, dosimetry, regulatory challenges, and practical applications.

Thomas Kroc presented a poster on ‘Developments in High-Power Electron Accelerators’ showcasing how these advanced accelerators can generate X-rays at power levels comparable to megacurie cobalt sources. Thomas and the iia look forward to involvement in the Kilmer Modalities Working Group, particularly in the area of Low Energy Electron Beams (LEEB).

Click here to view both abstracts →

Key Highlights from Kilmer 2025:

• Innovative Topics: The conference featured sessions on emerging technologies in cleaning, disinfection, and sterilisation; microbiological quality control; aseptic and sterilisation process validation; and alternative testing methods.
• Alternative Sterilisation Modalities: Presentations explored novel sterilisation methods, including low-energy electron sterilisation, highlighting their benefits and considerations for implementation.
• Digital Integration: Discussions emphasized the role of artificial intelligence and big data in enhancing sterilisation processes and microbiological quality assurance.
• Sustainability: Sessions addressed sustainable practices in sterilisation, focusing on transitioning to a circular economy within the medical device industry.
• Regulatory Alignment: The conference examined pathways to facilitate regulatory approvals and the application of process control or parametric approaches in sterilisation.

For more information on LEEB, read the iia’s ‘Introduction to Low Energy Electron Beams’.