Bilal M. Shafi

General Surgery Resident, University of Pennsylvania

Biodesign Surgical Innovation Fellow, Stanford University

Training surgical innovators:Early experience with the Stanford

Surgical Innovation Program

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“The abdomen, the chest and the brain will forever be shut from the intrusion of the wise

and humane surgeon”

Sir John Eric EricksenSurgeon-Extraordinaire to Queen Victoria, 1837

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The Problem

• Technology is becoming more complex

• Physician views are narrowing– Specialization– “Treadmill” mentality

There is a “crisis” of physician / innovators

There is an increasing gap between technology and clinician needs

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Stanford Biodesign - Mission

To develop leaders in biomedical technology innovation

Educate. Collaborate. Innovate.

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Innovation

“Innovation is not simply invention; it is inventiveness put to use.”

Innovation is a process and, as such, can be learned.

Harold Evans

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Biodesign Surgical Innovation Program

InnovationBusiness People

Clinicians

Engineers

BiodesignSIP

Next Generation of InnovatorsNew Medical Devices

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Team 2005 - 2007

Jessica Connor, MSMechanical Engineer

Gary Binyamin, PhDChemical Engineer

Gabriel Sanchez, MSMechanical Engineer

Bilal Shafi, MD, MSE Surgical resident

Biomedical Engineer

Carlos Mery, MD, MPH Surgical resident

Public Health

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Innovation Process

… 387 … > 200

Need

Need

Need

Need

Need

Need

Need

Need

Need

Need

Need

Concepts

Concepts

Concepts

Concepts

Concepts

Concepts

Concepts

Concepts

Concepts

Concepts

Concepts

Brainstorming

NeedsTop

NeedsTop

ConceptsConcepts

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Needs finding - Clinical immersion

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An abundance of needs…

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Need validation and specification

• Consult literature• Talk to experts• Detailed need specification

– Background info– Current solutions– Need statement– Design criteria

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Brainstorming

• Defer judgment• Encourage wild ideas• Build on the ideas of others• Stay focused• One conversation at a time• Be visual• Go for quantity• Have fun!

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Concept organization

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Concept selection

Risk

Rew

ard

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Prototyping

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Business / project planning

• Intellectual property / patents

• Reimbursement

• R&D strategy

• Regulatory strategy

• Funding

• Business / project plan

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Intellectual Property

• OTL

• Patentability

• Freedom to operate

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Research & Development

• Bench testing

– Efficacy

• Animal testing

– Efficacy

– Proof of Concept

– Safety

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Funding

• Grants

– National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA)

• Angel investors

• Venture Capitalists

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Our “product”

Biodesign Innovation Fellows and Alumni – June, 2006

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“The best way to predict the future…

is to invent it.”

Alan KayXerox PARC