We had the opportunity to chat to Dr. Stuart Grant, founder and principal consultant and Archteype MedTech and one of our esteemed expert judges participating in this year’s MedTech38.
You’ve Had A 25-Year Career in MedTech – Where Did It All Start?
My career in MedTech came about almost by chance. I originally wanted to be a consumer goods product designer but after university I managed to land a job with Johnson & Johnson, which opened my eyes to MedTech and orthopaedics – and the rest is history!
What Did You Gain from Your Years As A Design Engineer?
The late 1990s was an exciting time for orthopaedics and I was fortunate to be involved in the development of ground-breaking technologies, creating innovative products. For instance, I’m particularly proud of the hip fracture device projects, an early (2009) shoulder replacement navigation system, and of course, the time I spent in China working with incredible engineers developing a new knee system for the ASPAC market.
My years as an industrial designer, Chartered Engineer and MedTech programme leader with Johnson & Johnson and DePuy Synthes gave me in-depth expertise and insight across the entire journey to gaining market approval for a product – front-end innovation, product research and development, engineering, regulatory and project management – which is very rare in the MedTech world.
I also got the opportunity to work abroad, in the US and India as well as China. My five years working in China also inspired me to pursue my doctoral research into front end of innovation from an engineering and product development perspective.
It’s been a thrilling and highly satisfying career so far, and everything I’ve learned and experienced over the past 25 years informs my work today, helping other innovators bring their medical devices to market and transforming the lives of patients.
What Inspired You To Launch Your Innovation Management Consultancy, Archetype?
Navigating the complex MedTech development and approval process requires more than just innovation – around 75% of MedTech products fail to make it to market.
Archetype enables me to use all my design and development experience, MDR knowledge and doctoral research to help innovators identify – and avoid – the many potential pitfalls that can stop a project in its tracks and make sure their product makes it to market and to the patients who need it.
I also absolutely love the development journey! It can be challenging, working through the design, engineering and manufacturing problems, and not least navigating the regulatory approval process, but the thrill of finally launching a product and seeing it in real clinical settings is unmatched.
How Can MedTech Innovators Prevent Their Project From Falling By the Wayside?
I can’t stress enough how important it is to address potential pitfalls right from the very outset.
Most companies will be familiar with the more common challenges to gaining market approval because they’re governed by high-level standards such as MDR, ISO, ASTM, MedDev, and there are well-travelled paths to overcome them.
But other hindrances are not so obvious and they often go unrecognised until it’s too late. Identify these in a timely manner, and you’ll be far better able to factor in solutions throughout the innovation process.\
I’ve written a paper on precisely this topic to help guide companies through the minefield, covering potential constraints such as specification complexity, balancing design requirements and risk, Unique Device Identification (UDI), and the nuances of biocompatibility. Click here and scroll down to read it.
Failure can be extremely expensive as well as pretty soul-destroying, particularly for a start-up or SME. It’s why I aim to start working with MedTech companies, as the first seed of their innovation is being sown.
What One Piece of Advice Do You Always Give MedTech Innovators?
Finding that balance between daily tasks and the overall journey is absolutely key to success. We really need to consider both aspects carefully!
On the one hand, it’s all about the details, especially when you’re navigating through years of development with various phases and teams involved. If we lose sight of those finer points, it can lead to significant challenges. But it’s just as important to keep in mind the bigger picture – your ‘North Star’.
What Does the Future Hold for MedTech Development?
The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the New Product Development (NPD) process represents a transformative shift, significantly enhancing efficiency, creativity, and strategic foresight.
Over the last decade we’ve also witnessed incredible advancements in robotics, and it’s clear that navigation technology is now being seamlessly integrated with robotic systems to deliver impressive benefits. I truly believe robotics and navigation are going to be essential technologies in our sector.
Additionally, larger organisations are transitioning away from just being metal and plastic manufacturers. Strategic companies focusing on innovative service models, rather than solely manufacturing, will likely lead the way.
And, as many products become commoditised, I envision a shift toward how medical technology can enhance the overall experience for operating room staff and patients.
I believe MedTech innovators must improve not just the development of devices where we’ve already made significant strides, but also how patients interact with medical devices to improve outcomes. Investing in these adjacent technologies is where we’ll find real benefits for both users and patients.
Which Projects Are Currently Inspiring You?
I started Archetype with a focus on orthopaedics and surgical devices, but it’s been exciting to see clients coming from a much broader range of disciplines – everything from aesthetic surgery to neurology and stroke rehabilitation. It’s a great opportunity to tailor the MedTech innovation process to these adjacent fields.
Like many others, I’ve been inspired by the integration of AI into my daily practice. I now use AI features in tools like Monday, Notion, and ChatGPT regularly. From a MedTech perspective, I’ve been exploring Medboard’s platform – particularly their new AI-powered systematic literature review feature.
And finally, I’m currently developing my own AI Agent to help draft user needs, design and engineering specifications, verification protocols, and risk assessments. Curious to see where that takes me!
