Academic laboratories are uniquely positioned to drive medical device innovation, advancing ideas from early research into technologies with real-world clinical impact. This presentation shares lessons learned from transitioning new technologies from the lab to clinical use. Three case studies illustrate different aspects of the journey: an intra-surgical cardiac imaging tool designed to give surgeons better real-time information, new methods for monitoring intra-abdominal pressure and pelvic health, and approaches to reducing infection risk in infusion systems. The discussion highlights the challenges of identifying the right clinical problem, building prototypes, and navigating the regulatory and translational steps needed to bring devices closer to practice.

About the Speaker

Dr. Hitchcock is a professor, entrepreneur, and executive in the medical device industry. He held roles at Becton Dickinson, Medtronic, Utah Medical, and Sorenson Medical, co-founded Catheter Connections, and is now Emeritus Professor at the University of Utah. He holds over 30 patents and has published more than 70 articles, serving as CTO for two startups.