Season 1 - Episode 1: Big Picture Innovation in Vascular Interventional Radiology

As a patient, would you prefer a trip to the operating room for major surgery or a minimally invasive procedure? Cheaper, safer, faster.

The younger stage of interventional radiology (IR) attracts us because of its cool gadgets and opportunity for medical device innovation. Today’s guest is Dr. Jessica Stewart from UNC Hospitals. We discuss medical technology innovation in the field of vascular IR. 

 Today’s Topics Include:

• What is IR? Minimally invasive procedures using image guidance to treat various disorders/conditions, including vascular abnormalities, women’s health, certain cancers
• How IR works from head to toe? Focuses on everything through small incisions in skin
• IR Procedures: Everything from handling abscesses and biopsies to pain control
• Novel vs. Incremental Medical Device Innovation: No special balloons back in the day for angioplasty and stents
• Nimble Ninjas: Pros and cons of IR’s public relations (PR) problem being known for inventing procedures for other specialities
• Big Ticket Problems: Challenges with IR continue depending on user experience and clinical needs to pursue solutions
• Biodesign vs. Sprints: Mining for unmet clinical needs leads to improved efficiency
• Urgent Unmet Needs: Problems with implanted devices and length of time they remain in body can be a death sentence 

Links and Resources:

Dr. Jessica Stewart

Angioplasty

Balloon Expandable Stent

Charles Theodore Dotter: The Father of Intervention

Devin Hubbard

FastTraCS

Guidewire