Imagine a live, health-focused version Shark Tank open to the public: presentations from real health professionals, presenting real innovations they developed to address real health care issues. And yes, there are real money awards at stake.
It’s the 2019 Duke Health Innovation Jam.
At ten minutes ‘til show time, people gather in small groups clothed in suits, business attire, and white coats. They chat in low voices. The hum of comfortable conversation buzzes through the room. The sixth floor of the Trent Semans Center is quite the setting. Three sides of the room are encapsulated in glass and you can easily see an expansive view of both Duke’s West and Medical campuses, as well as luscious green trees comprising parts of Duke’s Forest. Naturally, there is a glorious view of the Chapel, basked in sunlight.
This light finds its way into the room to shine on various research posters at the back displayed on a few rows of mobile walls. Though a few strays meander through the stationary arrangements – stopping to look more closely at particular findings – most people make their way into the room and find a seat as the minutes dwindle away. The hum grows and there is a bit of anticipatory energy among those readying themselves to present.
At three minutes after 10, the program director of the Duke Institute for Health Innovation, Suresh Balu, takes position at the front of the room, standing before the small stage at center that is surrounded by lots of TV monitors. No seat in the room is a bad one. Balu indicates that it is time to begin and the hum immediately dissipates. He explains the general format of the event: six pitches total, five minutes to present, eight minutes to answer questions from investors, a show-of-hand interest from investors, and transition to the next pitch, followed by deliberation and presentation of awards.
After a round of thanks, introduction of the emcee – Duke’s Chief of Cardiology, Dr. Manesh Patel – the curtains opened – figuratively – on Duke’s fifth annual Innovation Jam.
Groups presented on the problems they were addressing, their proposed innovations, and how the innovations worked. There was also information about getting products into the market, varying economic analysis, next steps or detailed goals for the projection of the projects, and analysis of the investment they are currently seeking and for what purposes.
The first group pitched an idea about patient-centric blood draw and suggest a device to plug into existing peripheral draws to reduce the frequent poking and prodding that hospital patients often experience during their hospital stay when blood is needed for lab tests. Next up was a group who designed an intelligent microscope for automated pathology that has a programmable system and uses machine learning to automate pathological blood analysis that is currently highly time consuming. Third at bat was a group that made a UV light bag to clean surgical drain bags that frequently become colonized with bacteria and are quite frankly “nasty” – according to the presenter.
Batting cleanup was PILVAS – Peripherally Inserted Left Ventricular Vent Anticoagulation System – which is a device that would be accessory to VA ECMO support to reduce thromboembolism and stroke that are risks of ECMO. Fifth was the ReadyView and ReadyLift, a laparoscopic tool set that is much cheaper than current laparoscopic tools and methods, and because of its ability to be used with any USB compatible laptop, it would increase access to laparoscopic surgery in countries that have a high need for it. Last, but not least, was an innovation that is the first synthetic biometric osteochondral graft for knee cartilage repair that hopes to improve knee osteoarthritis surgical care as the first hydrogel with the same mechanical properties of cartilage.
Following a quick ten-minute break for investors to huddle around and discuss who should win the awards – $15,000 for Best Innovation and $15,000 for Best Presentation – the winners were announced. Drumroll, please.
ReadyView won Best Presentation and the synthetic osteochondral graft won Best Innovation. A pair of representatives from Microsoft were also in attendance – a first for the Innovation Jam – and awarded SalineAI, the group who designed the intelligent microscope with an independent award package.
Patel, the emcee, says we are in the midst of a fourth industrial revolution.
“What is the biggest cinema in the world?” Patel asked. “Netflix,” he says. Industries are reimagining themselves and healthcare is no exception.
What is the best healthcare system of the future going to look like? Of course, we really don’t know, but there are certainly people who are already doing more than just think about it.