LTR 96: A patient-centric approach to medical device R&D

Summary“Is it good enough for myself as well as my family and the community at large?”How do we keep the patient front and center when making design decisions for a medical device? How can we balance functionality with safety without over-engineering a device that becomes difficult to use and cost-prohibitive? In this Let’s Talk Risk! conversation, Naveen Agarwal explores these questions with Peter Braido, VP of R&D at MediView XR, about his extensive experience in the medical device industry. They talk about the intersection of engineering and patient experience, the challenges of balancing safety and performance in product development, and the importance of cross-functional collaboration. Peter shares personal insights from his journey, including the impact of his own health experiences on his work, and emphasizes the need for soft skills in technical leadership. The discussion also touches on the significance of creating a closed-loop feedback system in medical devices and the innovative concept of biomimicry in engineering.Listen to the full 30-minute podcast or jump to a section of interest listed below. Chapters00:55 Introducing Peter Braido03:12 Focusing on the Patient in Engineering Medical Devices05:22 Balancing Safety and Performance in Medical Device Development08:45 Navigating Trade-offs in Device Longevity and Quality of Life11:13 Fostering Patient Focus and Design Excellence through Mentoring13:53 Managing Competing Requirements: Business vs. User Needs16:50 Building Soft Skills and Nurturing Cross-Functional Collaboration20:14 Creating a Closed Loop Feedback System for Medical Device R&D24:53 Lessons from Nature: Biomimicry in Engineering28:44 Key Takeaways and Closing ThoughtsIf you enjoyed this podcast, consider subscribing to the Let’s Talk Risk! newsletter.Suggested links:LTR: Understanding human factors aspect of AR applications in medical devices. LTR: A fast growing frontier: AR/VR driving innovation in MedTech. ACHIEVE: Post-market surveillance workshop.Key Takeaways* Live your legacy and make an impact.* Quality of life is difficult to quantify.* Perfection is the enemy of goodness.* You cannot do anything on your own.* Always keep the patient first in mind.* Weighing risks and competing requirements is crucial.* Soft skills are as important as technical skills.* We need to align across the board.* Research should solve specific clinical solutions.* Engage with cross-functional teams early and often.KeywordsMedical devices, risk management, patient safety, engineering, innovation, cross-functional collaboration, biomimicry, product development, healthcare technology, leadershipAbout Peter N. BraidoPeter Braido is the VP or R&D at MediView XR, Inc., where he is leading augmented reality enabled innovation for medical applications. He has held various positions in medical device R&D over his 25 year career at many leading MedTech companies. He has worked on next generation transcatheter cardiovascular implants, pulsed field ablation technologies, and XR/AI/Robotics. He holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering, and various certifications in machine learning for healthcare. Let’s Talk Risk! with Dr. Naveen Agarwal is a weekly live audio event on LinkedIn, where we talk about risk management related topics in a casual, informal way. Join us at 11:00 am EST every Friday on LinkedIn.DisclaimerInformation and insights presented in this podcast are for educational purposes only, and not as legal advice. Views expressed by all speakers are their own and do not reflect those of their respective organizations. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit naveenagarwalphd.substack.com/subscribe