Ep15 - New functionality calls for new data. Here’s how to find it. Key Tech POV

MedTech Speed to Data

When you’re trying to add new functionality to existing technology, the data you need won’t be presented on a silver platter. Sometimes, you don’t even know what the right data is until you find it. This was the case with RevMedica, a start-up that’s developing a new hybrid robotic laparoscopic stapler technology.

Following Andy Rogers’ talk with RevMedica, he and electrical engineer Rachael Scott discussed the search for data when designing new functionality into existing platforms.

Need to know:

• Cost is a driver in a hospital environment.
• Look at the competitive field and at other technologies that could enable your technology.
• Understand what your customers want and how they work; function and features define your architecture.
• Be ready to demonstrate the added value of the features you’ve designed in.

The nitty-gritty:

Clinicians want it all when it comes to medical technology, but they don’t want to pay for it all, especially in the highly competitive hospital market. So when you’re adding new functionality to existing systems – or even developing a disruptive new technology – you must pick and choose features that will make your product stand out without breaking the bank.

There are a few ways to find and evaluate the data you need to successfully bring your product to market.

1. Understand your customers. Listen to what they want and need, and understand how your product affects their workflow. Get user feedback throughout the development process. Clinicians perform many different tasks, so big changes can lead to non-compliance, which reduces efficacy.
2. Know when to hold ’em and when to fold ’em. Consider how far along the development path you can go before you pivot by setting milestones. And look to the data to make the “go or no-go” decision. For example, RevMedica’s original idea was to develop a full-on robotic technology. Months into development, it became apparent that a hybrid model was the way to go, and they had the smarts to make the switch.

1. Look for savings in manufacturing. Costs can be amortized for durable components, so deciding which components are durable and which are disposable is a critical decision. Seek ways to design multiple parameters into one sensor. This also affects the sustainability of your product – an increasingly important issue. In addition to opening up a new world of ideas, sustainability can be a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
2. Design for the outcome you want. Consider what happens when the task you’re enabling is performed correctly, and design to that outcome. Once again, this is where user data is invaluable. This helps you evaluate your feature set and ensures that you’re creating the right architecture for the platform.

Above all, remember, there’s power in the data, and collecting the data as you develop new products helps inform another generation of technology.

Helpful Links:

https://www.revmedica.comHome | revmedica