# Michael Brooks | How BayCath Medical Is Rethinking Catheter Development

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2026-08-21
- Length: 48m
- Episode: 35
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-08-21-michael-brooks-how-baycath-medical-is-rethinking-catheter-development

## Summary

Michael Brooks, founder and CEO of BayCath Medical, explains how his contract manufacturing company helps startups and R&D teams accelerate catheter development by prioritizing collaboration and rapid iteration over rigid, high-volume processes. He details the manual nature of catheter manufacturing, the importance of planning for scale from the first prototype, and strategies for managing material selection and design transfers. Brooks also discusses the challenges of lead times, the 'cat and mouse' game of device reprocessing, and his approach to maintaining calm under pressure by drawing on his background as an EMT.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-08-21-michael-brooks-how-baycath-medical-is-rethinking-catheter-development#t=0) Introduction: Michael Brooks and BayCath Medical
- [1:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-08-21-michael-brooks-how-baycath-medical-is-rethinking-catheter-development#t=73) Brooks' Path to Biomedical Engineering and Career History
- [3:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-08-21-michael-brooks-how-baycath-medical-is-rethinking-catheter-development#t=189) The Problem: Lead Times and Communication Gaps in Catheter Manufacturing
- [5:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-08-21-michael-brooks-how-baycath-medical-is-rethinking-catheter-development#t=326) Understanding Catheters: Medical Applications and Patient Benefits
- [9:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-08-21-michael-brooks-how-baycath-medical-is-rethinking-catheter-development#t=565) BayCath's Strategy: Speed, Collaboration, and On-Site Development
- [13:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-08-21-michael-brooks-how-baycath-medical-is-rethinking-catheter-development#t=810) Best Practices: Planning for Scale and Manual Manufacturing Realities
- [16:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-08-21-michael-brooks-how-baycath-medical-is-rethinking-catheter-development#t=980) Market Adoption, Volumes, and the Path to Acquisition
- [18:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-08-21-michael-brooks-how-baycath-medical-is-rethinking-catheter-development#t=1099) Balancing Speed with Regulatory Requirements and Supply Chain Management
- [20:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-08-21-michael-brooks-how-baycath-medical-is-rethinking-catheter-development#t=1251) Design Iteration, Material Selection (Pebax), and Prototyping Tactics
- [27:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-08-21-michael-brooks-how-baycath-medical-is-rethinking-catheter-development#t=1673) Design Transfer, Tribal Knowledge, and Managing Customer Expectations
- [31:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-08-21-michael-brooks-how-baycath-medical-is-rethinking-catheter-development#t=1906) The Reprocessing Market: OEMs vs. Reprocessors and Ethical Considerations
- [35:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-08-21-michael-brooks-how-baycath-medical-is-rethinking-catheter-development#t=2150) Applying Emergency Response Mindset to Engineering Stress and Communication
- [42:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-08-21-michael-brooks-how-baycath-medical-is-rethinking-catheter-development#t=2576) Planning Strategies: Rolling Wave Development and Future Innovation Weeks

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- BayCath Medical (company)
- Pipeline Design & Engineering (company)
- PDX 2026 (other)
- Intuitive (company)
- J and J (company)
- Boston Scientific (company)
- Medtronic (company)
- Champer (other)
- Pebax (material)
- Newsoft (material)
- Nylons (material)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [#461: Why Manufacturing is Part of Product Development with Mike Dolphin](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2026-06-22-461-why-manufacturing-is-part-of-product-development-with-mike-dolphin) (Global Medical Device Podcast)
- [Project Management for Product Development of Medical Devices](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2021-10-27-project-management-for-product-development-of-medical-devices) (Global Medical Device Podcast)
- [005 - “Compassionate Product Development” with Cameron Jones](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2021-11-03-005-compassionate-product-development-with-cameron-jones) (Let's Combinate)
- [Episode 274: Fold time back on itself](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2020-08-28-episode-274-fold-time-back-on-itself) (Making It)
- [180: Made in Missouri, Live from the 2024 Midwest Manufacturers Trade Show & Conference](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-04-09-180-made-in-missouri-live-from-the-2024-midwest-manufacturers-trade-show-confere) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)

## Citing this page

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