Case Study: Wearable Systems - Developing Biomedical Devices: Design, Innovation and Protection - page 68

At the Design Department of the Politecnico di Milano, a new Research team
(TeDH, i.e. Technology and Design for Healthcare) started from this analysis to
promote skills collaboration and integration of polytechnic disciplines [ 1 ]. In par-
ticular the SensibiLab (Laboratory of Biomedical Sensors and Systems) is the
operative site and tool for the development of innovative technologies, methodolo-
gies and models for data collection, analysis and simulation of human-machine-
environment physiological interaction integrating skills of medicine, engineering,
design and ergonomics. The main research area of the laboratory is the develop-
ment and application of Wearable Sensors and methodologies for non-intrusive
measurement of biological signals associated with the spontaneous behavior of the
subject [ 6 ] (Fig. 4.2 ).
This technological and methodological know-how of the Sensibilab has not
been kept for research only, but gave rise to specific IPR from which two new busi-
ness initiatives, each one with a different identity and specificity, were established.
4.3 From Research to Market: IPR as a Key Element
to Code and Protect the Developed Innovation
Among its institutional goals, the Politecnico di Milano devotes special attention
and commitment to the promotion and development of research and technology
transfer.
The two main tools that the University utilizes for this purpose are:
(1) the protection of the results of research carried out within the University;
(2) the transfer of technology related to the intellectual creations of its
researchers.
Fig. 4.2 The prototype
of wearable sensor and of
monitoring unit for newborns
developed at the SensibiLab
of the Politecnico di Milano