Innovative Product Development and Technology Adoption for Medical Applications - Biomaterials Science: An Integrated Clinical and Engineering Approach - page 280

like a simple step, but it can prove to be very problematic. The “naming” of
a technology frequently has a lot to do with the ability of the developers to
transition the technology across technology boundaries into new applica-
tions. It's important not to limit the potential solutions too early in the pro-
cess. In Gelb's book on innovation, this is called “kaleidoscope” thinking.
I usually make two different maps. One is the technology version, and the
second is the operational or developmental version. The first maps out all
of the potential technologies and all the options that might provide solu-
tions. The second maps out all the developmental paths that the technolo-
gies might take and ends with the contacts that should be followed in each
technical area.
Let's look at an example of the technology version. We place the automated
medical chart at the center and look for other technology connections. What
benefits can we provide and what other enabling factors come to light that
might provide value to the user? If we involve the user in this brainstorming
session, we can come up with a number of other “what if?” benefits. What
if everyone who needed the data had access to it after the nurse recorded it
only once? What other data would make it more valuable? How does this
technology fit into the current process? Does this save time, money, or lives
by its adoption?
What can we learn from this map? As we populated the map, a few other
factors came to the thought process. We originally were planning to auto-
mate the charting process to aid the nurse in time management. As we built
this map it also came to light that by automating the chart we also enabled
the doctor to view the chart in real time remotely. This would be another
adopter who benefited. We also found that in the automation we could also
provide links to the patient history, laboratory tests results, and even X-rays

More time
for patient
care

Reduced legal
Liability costs

Doctor's
remote
review

Accuracy of
data
recording

Time
utilization

Automated
medical
charts

No end of
shift
charting

Drug
inventory

Enables more
communication
to Dr. Links to other

patient data

Past
history

Automated
orders and
limits

Lab
tests

X-rays

FIGuRE 11.2
Medical Technology Mind Mapping example.