#336: From Academia to FDA Clearance (True Quality Roadshow - Boston)

Global Medical Device Podcast · 14 Sept 2023 · 42m · Episode 336

What this episode covers

Christy Sheehy-Bensinger, CEO and Founder of C-Light Technologies, discusses her journey from optical engineering at Corning and a PhD at UC Berkeley to securing FDA clearance for the RediTrack eye movement monitor. She details the strategic pivot from seeking digital health investors to focusing on medical device investors, the critical role of NIH grants in validating the technology, and the importance of building a quality culture early using Greenlight Guru. She also shares insights on selecting predicate devices for 510(k) clearance and the ongoing challenges of post-clearance commercialization and team scaling.

Mentioned

Companies
C-Light Technologies, Corning, UC Berkeley, NIH, Yamaha Motor Ventures, Creative Ventures, Medtech Innovator, FDA
Products
RediTrack
Tools
Greenlight Guru

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Let's Combinate · 1h 07m

    017 - "Feet First" with Ahmed Zobi

    Ahmed Zobi, Founder and CEO of Syntr Health Technologies, explains how he bootstrapped his company from a university project to FDA 510(k) clearance for the SyntrFuge System, a device that automates the microsizing of adipose tissue for body contouring and wound care. Zobi details the strategic decision to target aesthetics and orthopedics first to generate revenue while pursuing diabetic foot ulcer indications, and describes the intense personal sacrifices made during the grant submission process and the COVID-19 pandemic. He emphasizes the importance of leveraging mentors, conducting customer discovery through the NSF iCorps program, and building a robust quality management system early to navigate regulatory requirements.

  • The Hardware Story · 1h 22m

    Episode 1 - The Hardware Story of Inito w/ Aayush Rai | Building a B2C medical hardware company

    Aayush Rai, Co-Founder and CEO of Inito, discusses building a B2C medical hardware company from Bangalore, India, targeting the US market with a home fertility monitoring device. He details the journey from prototyping with Arduino to navigating FDA regulations, securing $15M in funding through a unique angel-first strategy, and the critical pivot to focus exclusively on the iOS ecosystem to achieve product-market fit.

  • Being an Engineer · 48m

    S1E50 Turning Personal Challenges into New Technology | Robert Chappell

    Robert Chappell, Founder and Chief Science Officer at EyeTech Digital Systems, explains how a severe repetitive strain injury led him to develop eye-tracking technology for computer access. He details the transition from a crude prototype to a commercial product, noting how the market shifted from users with RSIs to the AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) community for severely disabled users. Chappell discusses the technical evolution from analog cameras to USB digital solutions, the challenges of image processing with glasses, and the strategic decision to accept venture funding to compete with larger tech acquisitions.

  • Being an Engineer · 39m

    S4E47 Mark Byrne | Startup Engineering, Funding, & Assumptions

    Mark Byrne, founder of PriMedicus Development, discusses his experience leading early-stage life sciences and medical device companies, covering strategies for market validation, securing funding, and managing engineering teams. He emphasizes the importance of direct customer interaction over third-party research, using development contracts with early adopters to de-risk technology before seeking venture capital. Byrne also shares lessons from a failed food safety sensor project and a successful genetic testing product licensed from Mayo Clinic, highlighting the critical role of technical expertise and customer relationships in startup success.

  • Being an Engineer · 40m

    S2E40 Voice of the Customer, Using Questions, and the Technology Adoption Life Cycle Curve | Ted Newill

    Ted Newill, founder of Medical Device Success and SRD Vision, discusses the critical importance of 'Voice of the Customer' and the Technology Adoption Life Cycle Curve for medtech startups. He explains how engineers can bridge the gap between regulatory approval and commercialization by identifying early adopters and key opinion leaders before launch. Newill also shares advice on managing the pressure of venture-funded environments and the necessity of empathy and listening when collaborating with marketing and sales teams.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Global Medical Device Podcast. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.