Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
different application. The key here is in the leveraging of other technology.
In the federal government there is a form of research funding called Small
Business Innovative Research (SBIR). This is a phased program where
funding increases as you progress through the phases from I through
III. There is a provision in the program that even though you got Phase
I funding from the Department of Energy, you may go for Phase II fund-
ing from the Department of Defense or any other agency that you find
that is interested. The second source in effect leverages the funds spent
on Phase I but does not have to pay for them. This should be the attitude
of the researcher in the search for funding. New sources get the benefit
of previous development and only have to pay for the development of the
new prototype. I've bounced developments from one agency to another
several times and then back to the original source to their surprise and
benefit.
Getting a Foothold in the Medical Market
The medical market is very competitive and very difficult to enter by a small
business or lab-based developer. We should always look for alternative ways
to get the technology proven. We seem to sometimes have blinders on when
we are too deep into the technology mix. Being able to look through the
development to the logical consequences in the future of the technology
insertion is the key to finding the new product that will be a game-changer
in the future. Setting up a program briefing plan to identify common tech-
nology needs and to raise the visibility of multiple projects is a way to iden-
tify alternative customers and other uses for the technology that you are
developing. This is where the mind mapping techniques really shine. When
we are able to visualize the development and see what it really does, those
other applications naturally flow into the discussion.
Let's look at a case study to walk through the process. We'll go back to the
pocketscope. The infrared capability of the scope gives us a capability to
view heat differentials of very minute amounts. Where would this be appli-
cable to the medical field? Since I'm an engineer and a business doctor and
not a medical doctor, we'll go with that limited approach and look at only
a couple of areas. I know from experience that infections cause the areas
to be inflamed and therefore “hotter.” Muscle pulls and strains also cause
irritation that might yield inflammation. A similar unit is the portable hand-
held ultrasound unit that was used on our dog by the vet to detect a muscle
strain after an agility trials injury. We probably need the handheld unit to
display on a laptop or other screen instead of on an eyepiece. Since this pock-
etscope is actually a digital camera with a video out, that is not a problem—
it's a cable. Next we look at what the concept of operation would be. It would
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