# How to Improve Your Medical Device Design Reviews Bonus Episode

- Show: [Global Medical Device Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast)
- Published: 2019-11-07
- Length: 17m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2019-11-07-how-to-improve-your-medical-device-design-reviews-bonus-episode
- Listen: https://podcast.greenlight.guru/episode/how-to-improve-your-medical-device-design-reviews-bonus-episode

## Summary

Jon Speer and Michael Drues, Ph.D., discuss the practical challenges of conducting independent design reviews for medical device startups and the tension between deliberate engineering and investor pressure. They argue that while regulations require independence, small teams can leverage medical device incubators or peer networks to find objective critics when hiring consultants is unfeasible. The hosts also debate the 'fail fast' mentality, warning that in the small-company context where failure often means company collapse, finding problems early is critical for survival rather than just cost savings.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2019-11-07-how-to-improve-your-medical-device-design-reviews-bonus-episode#t=0) Introduction: Independent Reviews and Slowing Down
- [1:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2019-11-07-how-to-improve-your-medical-device-design-reviews-bonus-episode#t=61) The Challenge of Independence for Cash-Strapped Startups
- [5:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2019-11-07-how-to-improve-your-medical-device-design-reviews-bonus-episode#t=324) Leveraging Incubators and Peer Networks for Reviews
- [7:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2019-11-07-how-to-improve-your-medical-device-design-reviews-bonus-episode#t=448) Determining the Right Frequency for Design Reviews
- [9:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2019-11-07-how-to-improve-your-medical-device-design-reviews-bonus-episode#t=565) Reframing 'Slowing Down' as Being Deliberate
- [12:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2019-11-07-how-to-improve-your-medical-device-design-reviews-bonus-episode#t=770) The Reality of 'Fail Fast' in Small Medical Device Companies
- [16:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2019-11-07-how-to-improve-your-medical-device-design-reviews-bonus-episode#t=985) Conclusion: Ethical Objectives and Impact

## Topics

- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Medical & health devices](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/medical-devices)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Greenlight Guru (company)
- Vascular Scientist (company)
- Boston Scientific (company)
- Medtronic (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [S2E08 How to hire engineers, develop curiosity, and “fail fast” | Mike Reo](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-02-20-s2e08-how-to-hire-engineers-develop-curiosity-and-fail-fast-mike-reo) (Being an Engineer)
- [S5E15 Derek Harper | The Benefits of Working At A Small Company, & How to Motivate Your Engineering Team](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-04-12-s5e15-derek-harper-the-benefits-of-working-at-a-small-company-how-to-motivate-yo) (Being an Engineer)
- [176 - The Fastest Way to Ruin Drug/Device Development (And How to Avoid It!) with Eric Sugalski](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2025-02-19-176-the-fastest-way-to-ruin-drug-device-development-and-how-to-avoid-it-with-eri) (Let's Combinate)
- [Dakota Welker | User Needs, Design Inputs, Verification & Validation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-09-25-dakota-welker-user-needs-design-inputs-verification-validation) (Being an Engineer)
- [S5E35 TJ Strang | How to Accelerate the Speed of Engineering, Episode 1](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-08-30-s5e35-tj-strang-how-to-accelerate-the-speed-of-engineering-episode-1) (Being an Engineer)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2019-11-07-how-to-improve-your-medical-device-design-reviews-bonus-episode. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Global Medical Device Podcast.