Engineering Education:
Dean Kamen, a renowned inventor and advocate for science, criticizes traditional engineering education for being elitist and not appealing to young girls and minorities. He believes that engineering should be presented in a way that showcases its power and elegance, and that more people should understand rational thinking.

Engineering for Healthcare:
Kamen discusses his invention of the first wearable insulin pump and the subsequent development of sophisticated medical devices, such as a bedside dialysis machine that simplified life support for patients at home.

Innovation and Commercialization:
Kamen emphasizes the importance of persistence and perseverance in bringing innovative medical devices to market, despite initial skepticism from the general public and regulators. He highlights the transformation of seemingly impossible ideas into indispensable standards of care through technological advancements.

Talent Acquisition:
Kamen expresses his urgent need for about 100 engineers with expertise in various fields, including electrical, mechanical systems, controls, metal, computational fluid dynamics, and material science. He invites universities to collaborate and provide him with the best and brightest engineering graduates.

Redefining Biomedical Engineering:
Kamen criticizes the current approach to biomedical engineering, arguing that it often focuses on the development of complex and expensive devices rather than addressing fundamental problems. He advocates for a shift towards simpler, more affordable, and accessible medical technologies that can reach a broader population.

The Power of Collaboration:
Kamen emphasizes the importance of collaboration between universities, industry, and government agencies in driving innovation in healthcare. He believes that this collaborative approach can accelerate the development and delivery of life-changing technologies to patients.

The Interface of Engineering and Biology:
Dean Kamen emphasizes the importance of merging engineering disciplines with biology, leading to transformative advancements.

Research and Development Disconnect:
Kamen criticizes the separation between research and development, with research focusing on long-term, curiosity-driven projects and development prioritizing short-term, incremental improvements.

DARPA’s Challenge for an Advanced Prosthetic Arm:
DARPA approached Kamen to develop a prosthetic arm with unprecedented dexterity, efferent-afferent haptic response, and self-contained power, all within a 50th percentile female frame.

Neurosurgical Complexity vs. User-Friendly Control:
Kamen’s disagreement with a neurosurgeon on the neural control of the prosthetic arm highlights the tension between invasive surgical procedures and intuitive user-friendly control.

Innovative Use of Gyros and Accelerometers:
Kamen’s solution involved integrating gyros and accelerometers into a small device, allowing users to control the arm with intuitive gestures, similar to using a computer mouse.

Chuck’s Success with the Prosthetic Arm:
A soldier named Chuck, missing both arms, demonstrated remarkable control over the prosthetic arm, performing tasks like eating cereal and picking up grapes, thanks to the intuitive control system.

Emotional Impact on Chuck’s Family:
Chuck’s wife’s emotional response to seeing him feed himself independently after 19 years showcases the profound impact of advanced medical devices on patients’ lives.

FDA Approval:
Kamen acknowledges the need for FDA approval for medical devices, hinting at future discussions on the topic.

The Model T Analogy:
Kamen refers to the prosthetic arm as their “Model T,” implying its significance as a pioneering step in the development of advanced medical devices.

Approval and Use of Next-Generation Prosthetics:
Dean Kamen’s team developed a new generation of prosthetics that can be slipped on and off like a glove, offering improved mobility and ease of use. The approval process for these prosthetics was challenging, taking 18 months and requiring a de novo classification after initial rejection.

Balancing Autonomous Robots for Disabled Individuals:
Kamen’s team created the first version of a stand-up balancing robot, which could carry a disabled person up and down stairs. This robot was demonstrated at the White House, highlighting the need for accessibility and recognition of individuals with disabilities. Despite its potential, the robot couldn’t reach volume production due to FDA regulations and other factors.

Collaboration between Engineering and Automotive Industries:
Toyota approached Kamen’s company to license sensor technology for fly-by-wire systems and accelerometers for automotive applications. Kamen declined the licensing request, as he wanted to use the technology for the next generation of prosthetics. A deal was reached where Toyota would assist in developing sensor technology for the automotive industry, while Kamen’s company would receive support in making their prosthetics more accessible.

Future of Mobility and Competition in the Automotive Industry:
Toyota’s collaboration with Kamen’s company reflects their concern about future competition from tech giants like Google and Amazon. The focus is shifting from traditional automotive engineering to advancements in sensor technology, LIDAR, and artificial intelligence. Kamen highlights that automotive companies are recognizing the importance of providing flexibility, access, independence, and mobility to everyone.

Engineering Education and Industry Trends:
Engineering schools should focus on advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, sensors, and robotics, as these are increasingly important in industries such as automotive. The automotive industry is shifting its focus from traditional mechanical components to sophisticated computer systems, controls, and sensors.

Regenerative Medicine and ARMI:
The Department of Defense (DoD) aims to establish a facility called ARMI (Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing) to accelerate the development and scale-up of regenerative medicine technologies. ARMI seeks to transform regenerative medicine research into practical applications, making it accessible to a wider population. ARMI aims to facilitate collaboration between medical institutions, universities, and industries to overcome challenges in scaling up regenerative medicine.

DECA and Partnerships:
DECA, a company founded by Dean Kamen, has relocated to New Hampshire and established partnerships with various organizations, including Autodesk, Texas Instruments, United Therapeutics, and the University of New Hampshire. DECA’s facilities include space for manufacturing, prosthetics, and the Army, demonstrating its commitment to innovation and collaboration.

3D Printing Technology in Regenerative Medicine:
DECA has developed core technologies, such as disposable components for dialysis machines, and applied them to regenerative medicine. Researchers have utilized 3D printing technology to create structures using materials like carbopol and collagen, demonstrating the potential for printing complex tissues and organs. DECA has provided high-performance 3D printers to 26 research groups working on regenerative medicine, enabling them to explore new possibilities in tissue engineering.

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology):
FIRST is a robotics competition founded by Dean Kamen 26 years ago, starting with 23 teams in a high school gym. FIRST has experienced remarkable growth, with over 55,000 schools from 86 countries participating in 2017, along with 140,000 volunteer mentors and 3,700 corporate sponsors. FIRST has awarded $50 million in scholarships to universities, particularly to women and minorities interested in science and technology.

Inspiration and Recognition:
Dean Kamen emphasizes the importance of inspiration and recognition in science and technology. He highlights the positive influence of teachers and mentors who challenged and trusted him. The FIRST program provides a platform for recognizing and celebrating achievements in STEM fields.

Technical Competence:
Kamen stresses the need for technically competent leaders in a rapidly changing world. He believes that the FIRST program can help develop a generation of leaders equipped with the necessary technical skills and knowledge. He emphasizes the importance of investing in STEM education to address global challenges, including cyber and regenerative medicine.

14 Grand Challenges:
Kamen was part of a committee tasked with identifying the 14 Grand Challenges facing humanity. These challenges include addressing climate change, improving healthcare, and ensuring access to clean water. Kamen believes that solving these challenges requires a collaborative effort from scientists, engineers, and policymakers worldwide.

Shimon Peres’ Transformative Vision:
Shimon Peres, then 80 years old, recognized the transformative impact of FIRST in Israel and the Middle East. Peres advocated for the establishment of FIRST teams throughout Israel and invited teams from neighboring countries to participate in regionals, fostering cross-cultural understanding and cooperation.

Peres’ Call for a Shift in Education:
Peres called for a shift in education, emphasizing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects instead of history. He argued that teaching history perpetuates divisions and conflicts, as each group teaches its own version of events, leading to a cycle of self-inflicted wounds.

STEM Education as a Unifying Force:
Peres believed that teaching STEM subjects would provide a common ground for kids worldwide, enabling them to solve their own problems and build a better future. He emphasized that mathematics and physics are universal languages that transcend cultural and linguistic boundaries.

FIRST Global: Expanding FIRST’s Reach:
Dean Kamen announced the launch of FIRST Global, an initiative to expand FIRST’s reach internationally. FIRST Global aims to bring together teams from over 150 countries, including refugee camps, to participate in an Olympic-style robotics event in Washington, D.C.

Collaboration with Universities:
Kamen emphasized the need for universities to support FIRST Global by affiliating with teams from their respective countries. University involvement is crucial in assisting teams with visas and providing a trusted entity for visa applications.

Custom Robotics Kits for Accessibility:
FIRST Global created custom robotics kits that are simpler, easier to ship, and suitable for teams with limited resources. The kits include high-tech components donated by companies like Qualcomm and NI, making them both affordable and engaging for students.

A Call to Action:
Kamen appealed to attendees not only as leaders in industry and education but also as citizens of the world and parents. He urged them to support FIRST Global as a means of promoting international understanding and cooperation, particularly in a world grappling with irrationality and division.

Engineers’ Role in Shaping Technology:
Kamen emphasized that engineers should have a louder voice in determining the development and deployment of technology. He stressed the importance of engineers considering the broader implications of their work and ensuring that technology is used for the betterment of society.

FIRST’s True Meaning:
FIRST is not about robots; it’s about self-respect, hard work, and collaboration. It’s a tool that empowers the next generation of innovators and problem solvers. FIRST provides a platform to break down barriers, promote peace, and cure diseases.

Medical Device Industry’s Contribution:
The medical device industry has a responsibility to advance technology for the good of humankind. Innovation and differentiation are key to success in the industry. 3D printing, or additive manufacturing, is a relatively young technology with potential to revolutionize the industry. Collaboration between engineers and physicians is essential for developing life-changing medical devices.

Joint Replacement as an Example:
Joint replacement surgery has come a long way since the 1950s. Early implants were made by hand, often from stainless steel. Low friction arthroplasty, developed in the 1950s and 60s, significantly improved the effectiveness of hip replacements.

Historical Evolution of Medical Implants:
From metal coatings to porous materials, medical implants have undergone rapid advancements in the past 30 years. Additive manufacturing has enabled the creation of intricate and specialized implants.

Collaboration with Academia:
Strong partnerships with academia have been crucial in optimizing implant surfaces for bone growth. University collaboration has led to significant advancements in the field of medical implants.

Biological Fixation:
Porous implant surfaces allow for bone growth and adherence, eliminating the need for acrylic cement. Biological fixation provides greater stability and eliminates the risk of cement degradation.

Material Optimization:
Studies have shown that titanium alloys are more conducive to bone adhesion compared to cobalt chrome. Different alloys have varying effects on the rate of bone growth.

Advancements in Manufacturing Equipment:
Manufacturing equipment has evolved from traditional mills to computer-controlled machines. 3D metal printing machines are now being utilized for implant production.

Additive Manufacturing and New Materials:
Additive manufacturing offers a wide range of materials for implants, including metals, plastics, and tissue scaffolds. The technology is rapidly advancing and has the potential to revolutionize implant design.

3D Printing Applications:
3D printing is being used to create houses, food, and even medical devices. Surgeons can now use 3D printed models to improve surgical planning and outcomes. Complex parts can be 3D printed in a matter of hours, reducing production time.

Custom and Production Implants:
3D printing allows for the creation of custom implants tailored to individual patients. Production implants can be manufactured in large quantities, making them more cost-effective.

Regulatory Challenges:
The regulatory process for 3D printed implants can be lengthy and complex. The FDA requires extensive performance data before approving implants for use.

Advancements in 3D Printing:
New 3D printing techniques enable the creation of implants with complex structures and variable porosity. These implants can be designed to replace bone lost during revision surgeries.

Benefits of 3D Printed Implants:
3D printed implants offer improved strength and biocompatibility. They allow for engineering of specific structures and surface morphologies.

Challenges in Implant-Biology Interaction:
Understanding the interaction between 3D printed implants and biological systems is crucial. Extensive validation work, including animal studies, is required to assess implant behavior.

Collaboration Between Industry and Academia:
Collaboration between industry and academia can accelerate progress in understanding implant-biology interaction. Veterinary divisions can play a significant role in this research.

Current Advancements in Implant Technology:
Significant progress has been made in the development of implants with integral, fully dense material substrates and porous surfaces. These implants can carry substantial weight and offer improved patient outcomes.

Quality and Regulatory Considerations:
Ensuring the reproducible manufacturing and qualification of implants is a major challenge. Optimizing implant designs requires interdisciplinary collaboration between engineers and metallurgists. Biocompatibility and particle size play crucial roles in the success of these implants, highlighting the need for rigorous regulatory oversight.

Educational Opportunities:
Universities play a vital role in preparing students to utilize and improve advanced manufacturing systems for medical technology. Biomedical engineering programs must foster collaboration between engineering and medicine to create a truly interdisciplinary approach.

Challenges and Opportunities for Universities:
Universities are uniquely positioned to identify research opportunities and seed the research of young investigators in the field of medical technology. Faculty members should be encouraged to recognize and address the challenges in the field, driving innovation and finding solutions.

CEO’s Perspective on MedTech Growth and Talent:
MedTech companies seek high-growth opportunities and talented individuals to drive business expansion. Transparency and disclosure of industry affiliations are essential to maintain trust and objectivity in academic collaborations.

Disclosures:
The speaker’s alma mater, lab affiliation, and technology licensing agreements are disclosed to ensure transparency.

MedTech’s Impact on Patient Care and Healthcare Costs:
MedTech plays a crucial role in improving patient outcomes, reducing mortality, and incidence of diseases, and enhancing heart outcomes. MedTech innovations lead to cost savings in healthcare by enabling minimally invasive surgeries, reducing hospital stays, and improving overall care efficiency.

MedTech Industry Overview:
The United States holds a leading position in the global MedTech arena. Contrary to popular perception, the industry is not dominated by a few large companies but consists of over 7,000 MedTech companies, mostly startups and small businesses. The industry generates annual sales of approximately $150 billion, employs 370,000 directly, and contributes to 1.9 million total jobs. MedTech’s share of total healthcare expenditure remains below 6%, highlighting its potential for further cost savings.

Challenges in MedTech Startups:
The pace of new MedTech startup companies has slowed down in recent years due to two main factors: Competition for capital: Raising funds is a significant challenge for MedTech startups. Competition for talent: Acquiring skilled and experienced talent is crucial for the growth and success of MedTech startups.

Talent Acquisition and Management in MedTech:
Talent acquisition is a key focus for MedTech startups to fuel their growth and innovation. A case study of Axygen, a high-growth company in peripheral nerve repair, illustrates the importance of talent in achieving rapid growth and commercial success. Axygen’s success is attributed to its ability to attract and retain highly skilled talent with diverse backgrounds, including technical experts, marketing professionals with engineering degrees, and surgeon educators with PhDs in biomedical engineering. The company’s growth is currently limited by its ability to acquire more talent to utilize additional funding.

Nerves as Electrical Signals:
Nerves carry electrical signals to control muscle movement and provide sensory feedback. Cutting a nerve disrupts signal transmission.

Nerve Repair Challenges:
Nerve repair is more complex than fixing wires due to biological factors. Regeneration and blood supply play crucial roles in nerve repair. Gaps between severed nerve ends prevent natural repair.

Borrowing Nerves for Repair:
To repair nerve damage, surgeons borrow a nerve from another part of the patient’s body. The goal is to restore normal motor and sensory function.

Nerve Injury and Chronic Pain:
Improperly healed nerves can cause chronic pain. Cut nerves may not carry complete or normal signals. Aberrant signals from damaged nerves can reach the brain. External compression on nerves, like in carpal tunnel syndrome, can disrupt signal conduction.

Altered Signal Conduction:
Altered signal conduction due to nerve damage can lead to muscle weakness or pain perception. Nerve function can be either normal or abnormal, affecting bodily functions. The focus is on restoring normal nerve function.

Focus on Nerve Repair:
The company’s expertise lies in nerve repair, aiming to restore normal function and alleviate chronic pain caused by nerve damage.

Opportunities:
Exogen is developing six products to restore nerve function after injuries or surgeries. The market opportunity is enormous, including both surgical and non-surgical applications.

Culture and Hiring:
Exogen prioritizes cultural fit and oxygenic values above technical skills. The company seeks individuals with strong communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and tenacity skills. Technical expertise in biomaterials, neurotech, and bioelectric science is highly valued.

Diversity:
Exogen recognizes the importance of diversity and strives to create a diverse slate of candidates. The company acknowledges that a diverse team leads to better outcomes.

Purdue’s Influence:
The speaker credits Purdue University for instilling organized problem-solving skills and the belief that every problem has a solution. These skills have been essential in the speaker’s entrepreneurial journey.

MedTech Enthusiasm:
The speaker expresses passion for MedTech and the opportunity to develop products that make a real difference in people’s lives. The circular process of creating products and developing people brings satisfaction and love for the job.

Challenges in Long-Term Investments:
The speaker acknowledges the diminished appetite for investments that take longer than seven to eight years, despite the spectacular innovations in the MedTech field. The speaker suggests exploring ways to shorten the time and data required to gain knowledge through computational modeling. The shortage of capital interested in longer-term investments is a challenge in the MedTech industry.

The Shift in Funding Priorities:
The tech industry’s lucrative opportunities have attracted investment away from medtech, particularly early-stage ventures. Angel investors and VCs once played a significant role in medtech funding, but their focus has shifted towards more advanced companies. Current VCs seek one-year-from-EBITDA-positive companies, indicating a preference for near-term profitability.

Creative Financing Options:
Entrepreneurs must explore alternative funding methods to bridge the funding gap. Angel investors remain a viable source, requiring tenacity and a willingness to approach individuals directly. Expensive financing options like royalty deals, where a percentage of future revenue is exchanged for an upfront investment, are available.

Financial Challenges in Medtech:
Developing medtech products requires substantial capital investment. Medtech startups typically need $100 million to reach profitability, while biologics and pharmaceuticals require close to $1 billion. The high financial barriers pose a significant challenge for medtech entrepreneurs seeking funding.

The Importance of Raising Money:
Bringing a product to market and making it profitable requires substantial financial resources. Companies need to raise money to cover the costs of development, production, and marketing.

The Importance of Finding and Attracting Talent:
Dean Kamen emphasizes the need for more talented individuals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Kamen believes that the engineering community needs to do a better job of attracting and inspiring young people, particularly women and minorities.

The Importance of Changing the Cultural Perception of Engineers:
Kamen criticizes the stereotypical portrayal of engineers as nerdy and uncool. He argues that the entertainment and sports communities do a better job of capturing the imagination of young people.

The Importance of Advocating for STEM Education and Careers:
Kamen calls for more emphasis on STEM education from kindergarten through 12th grade. He believes that engineering schools should focus on encouraging and nurturing students rather than intimidating and weeding them out.

The Importance of Promoting the Financial Rewards of STEM Careers:
Kamen points out that many people do not realize the significant financial rewards available in STEM careers. He believes that showcasing the success of individuals like Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and Jeff Bezos can help attract more young people to STEM fields.

The Importance of Addressing the Skills Gap:
Kamen emphasizes the need to address the skills gap in the workforce, as there is a shortage of qualified engineers and technicians. He encourages engineering schools to raise the bar and produce more graduates with the skills needed by industry.

The Power of Collaboration:
Dean Kamen emphasizes the importance of collaboration and sharing ideas to solve global challenges. He believes that the technical community can play a vital role in fostering a win-win approach, where individuals and teams can share their knowledge and resources to create shared wealth and progress.

Ideas Are Not Zero-Sum:
Kamen highlights the unique nature of ideas as a resource that can be shared and multiplied without diminishing their value. He uses examples of curing cancer and developing clean energy technologies to illustrate how sharing ideas can lead to collective progress and benefit.

The Need for a Loud Voice from the Technical Community:
Kamen expresses his concern that the current leadership in government, sports, entertainment, and law is not adequately representing the voice of the technical community. He believes that technical experts have a responsibility to speak up and influence decision-making, given their significant role in driving technological advancements.

The Responsibility of the Technical Community:
Kamen urges the technical community to take a more active role in shaping the direction of society. He believes that engineers and scientists have the knowledge and expertise to address global challenges and create a better future.

Involving Universities and Educational Institutions:
Kamen emphasizes the importance of universities and educational institutions in supporting the next generation of innovators. He seeks their assistance in encouraging students to participate in events and initiatives aimed at fostering collaboration and solving real-world problems.

Noah Augustine’s Support and the Book “Robots Behind the Design”:
Kamen acknowledges the support of Noah Augustine, a distinguished engineer and former NASA administrator, who has joined the board of FIRST. He also mentions Vince D’Agostino’s book, “Robots Behind the Design,” which showcases the achievements of FIRST teams over the years.

Sharing the Book and Gathering Information:
Kamen announces his plan to send copies of D’Agostino’s book to individuals who email him. This initiative aims to gather information about countries and institutions that can potentially support FIRST’s mission of promoting collaboration and innovation among young people.