Innovation in patient care requires both clinical and technical skills, and this paper presents the methods and outcomes of a nine-year, clinical-academic collaboration to develop and evaluate new medical device technologies, while teaching mechanical engineering. Together, over the course of a single semester, seniors, graduate students and clinicians conceive, design, build and test proof-of-concept prototypes. Projects initiated in the course have generated intellectual property and peer-reviewed publications, stimulated further research, furthered student and clinician careers, and resulted in technology licenses and start-up ventures.
Videos of translational projects that have resulted from the MIT program, including the CT-guided percutaneous robotic biopsy; the Kidney Cooler; the LapHand for manipulating large tissue masses without pinching; the EndoScrew, an endoscopic screwdriver; and a minimally invasive specimen remover. You can view these videos online here.
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