359.US Surgical: VP of R&D Kurt Azarbarzin on Scaling Product and Innovation of a Billion Dollar Empire

In this episode, Omar Khateeb speaks with Kurt Azarbarzin, Medical Device and Robotics Executive and former US Surgical R&D leader, breaks down how one company drove explosive growth during the rise of laparoscopic surgery. He explains how US Surgical built products at startup speed, why they dominated through deep surgeon partnerships, and what it took to compete head to head with J and J. Kurt shares hard lessons from spreading too thin, the hidden cost of distraction, and how innovation culture can either fuel growth or accelerate decline. He also reflects on the final days before the Tyco acquisition and what today’s medtech leaders can learn from one of the most intense competitive eras in medical device history.Episode Breakdown:00:00 – “We were fighting for resources”- The intensity of early US Surgical  00:36 – Introduction to Kurt Azarbarzin & his 21-year US Surgical journey  02:30 – Joining US Surgical in 1983 (before finishing engineering school)  04:30 – The stapling boom & 24/7 manufacturing shifts  06:30 – Lee Cohen’s role in launching laparoscopy  20:30 – 18-hour days, 7 days a week during the laparoscopic boom  23:00 – Competing with Ethicon: Innovators vs followers  26:00 – The biggest mistake: Entering the suture business  29:00 – Delayed launches & failures in sutures and needles  31:00 – SEC pressure, public scrutiny & Leon’s bold transparency  33:30 – R&D inside the OR: Cadavers, animals & human trials  35:30 – Use-and-abuse testing & surgical trial-by-fire stories  37:30 – Strategic planning “Ham & Pineapple Pizza” war room  39:00 – Lawsuits, patent battles & American College of Surgeons rivalry  40:30 – Tyco acquisition & the end of US Surgical culture  41:45 – Intuitive Surgical & the US Surgical sales legacy  42:45 – Final reflections on Leon Hirsch & leadership excellenceAre you a medtech CEO in need of some marketing help attracting investors, growing sales pipeline, and more? Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GrowMyMedtech.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to book time for a free analysis.Subscribe to our Youtube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@thestateofmedtechSubscribe to our LinkedIn Newsletterhttps://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/state-of-medtech-pod-7328860752952352770/Follow The State of MedTech onLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestateofmedtech/Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/stateofmedtech/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@stateofmedtechpodX https://x.com/stateofmedtechFacebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/stateofmedtechFollow Omar M. Khateeb onLinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/okhateeb/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/omar.m.khateeb/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@omar.m.khateebX ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https: https://x.com/OmarMKhateebFacebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/OmarMKhateebThis podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or medical advice. The views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of State of MedTech LLC. Nothing discussed on this podcast should be interpreted as a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any investment or security. Listeners should conduct their own due diligence and consult with a qualified financial advisor, attorney, or other professional before making any financial or investment decisions#medtech #healthcareinnovation #surgicalrobotics #medicaldevices #healthcareleadership #surgicalinnovation