In the healthcare industry, innovative leaders and entrepreneurs are essential for improving patient care and making operations more efficient. These individuals are dedicated to finding new ways to enhance healthcare and are resilient in tackling the challenges of the sector. Successful leaders create environments that encourage creativity, which can lead to better health outcomes. By using technology and new practices, healthcare entrepreneurs are changing how services are delivered and raising the bar for patient care, making it more accessible and focused on the needs of patients.
Albert Chin, the Co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer at Orare Medsystems Inc., is a prominent figure in this field. He is a respected medical professional known for his skills as an entrepreneur. Over his 40-year career, he has co-founded several medical device startups and invented many technologies, establishing himself as a leading business expert in healthcare. Currently, Dr. Chin manages four different companies: he has been the co-founder and chief innovation officer of TAS Medical Inc. since 2017, PercAssist Inc. since 2019, FemDx Medsystems Inc. since 2020, and Orare Medsystems Inc. since 2022.
A Career in Healing
Dr. Chin has dedicated his entire career to designing medical devices. He started his journey in 1978 as a researcher in cardiovascular medicine. To strengthen his application to medical school, he got involved in designing new medical instruments. He reached out to his mentor, Dr. Thomas J. Fogarty, and soon created his first patented invention, a linear everting balloon catheter.
After graduating from the UCSF School of Medicine, Dr. Chin participated in a general surgical residency with the goal of becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon. However, he took a break from his surgical training to work on more research with Dr. Fogarty. This led him to co-found his first medical device startup, Origin Medsystems, Inc., which was later acquired by Eli Lilly & Company. This acquisition eventually became part of Guidant Cardiac Surgery and then Boston Scientific Cardiac Surgery.
Dr. Albert Chin also participated in a medical device incubator called Pavilion Medical Innovations, funded by Catalyst Health Ventures, where he helped spin out several startup companies, including Saphena Medical, Inc. and Cruzar Medsystems, Inc. He has since taken on the role of primary inventor for new technologies and co-founder of his current startups.
“My background in mechanical engineering and general surgery enables me to visualize novel device solutions to critical clinical needs, and to construct iterative prototypes to achieve proof of concept for novel instrumentation and techniques,” Dr. Albert Chin says.
His motivation for working in medical device design comes from the potential to improve the lives and well-being of millions of patients worldwide by developing new therapies that can become the standard of care.
Overcoming Challenges
Dr. Chin has faced several significant challenges in his leadership role. He notes, “As a creator of new technology and therapeutic techniques, I must be mindful that a learning curve is associated with physician adoption of novel procedures.” He understands that advancements in global healthcare can’t truly help patients if new therapies can only be used by a small number of healthcare professionals.
To address this issue, Dr. Albert Chin emphasizes the importance of simplicity in his device designs. He focuses on making his products easy to use and easy to adopt, which are crucial elements in ensuring that more healthcare workers can successfully implement his innovations.
Mission in Healthcare Innovation
As the Chief Innovation Officer, Dr. Chin concentrates on specific areas to promote change in the healthcare sector. His companies and designs target clinical conditions that have high rates of illness and death to make the biggest difference in patient care.
Dr. Chin primarily focuses on the cardiovascular system because heart disease remains the leading cause of mortality. Additionally, he sees malignancies and complications related to obesity as important areas for developing therapeutic devices. By addressing these critical health issues, Dr. Chin aims to create solutions that significantly improve patient outcomes.
A Breakthrough in Surgery
One of Dr. Albert Chin’s proudest achievements is the design of tools used for the endoscopic vein harvesting (EVH) procedure during coronary artery bypass surgery. In the past, surgeons had to make a long incision in the leg to remove the greater saphenous vein for use as a graft. This lengthy incision often caused more pain than the chest incision made during open heart surgery, and infections occurred in 25% to 40% of patients afterward.
Thirty years ago, Dr. Albert Chin created an endoscopic dissection device with a transparent conical tip that allowed doctors to see the vein while performing the procedure through just a one-inch incision. He personally carried out the first dozen procedures and then trained physician assistants in the technique. Today, these assistants have performed endoscopic vein harvesting in over 3 million patients.
“My devices have become the standard of care, with over 90% of coronary bypass procedures in the U.S. using the endoscopic technique,” he says. This success story highlights the significant impact of Dr. Chin’s work on patient care and surgical practices.
Transforming Heart Failure Treatment
Three of Dr. Chin’s current startup companies are still in the early development stages, while one is transitioning into commercialization. One notable company, PercAssist, Inc., is conducting clinical trials for a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), also known as an artificial heart. This device is designed to support patients experiencing cardiogenic shock or advanced heart failure by implanting a balloon in front of the left ventricle, inside the pericardial sac.
The goal is to eventually allow the device to be placed non-surgically in a catheterization lab. Dr. Chin and his team presented the biomechanical principles behind the device, a summary of the preclinical tests conducted, and initial data from human use at the 70th annual meeting of the American Society of Artificial Internal Organs (ASAIO) in April 2024. The poster detailing this information is shared below:
Building Partnerships
Dr. Albert Chin’s startup medical device companies are actively seeking partnerships with established device companies. They are currently in communication during the development and clinical trial phases. PercAssist, Inc., which has a unique platform approach, is especially open to collaborating with larger companies. This device is crucial for sustaining life and will need a large-scale pivotal clinical trial for regulatory approval. Typically, major medical device companies prefer to conduct these pivotal trials under their direct oversight.
Meanwhile, Dr. Chin’s other startup companies are working on products that will require 510(k) clearance. These products will focus on commercialization and market development before being considered for acquisition by established entities.
The Future of Healthcare
The healthcare industry is changing quickly, and Dr. Albert Chin sees some important trends that may define its future. Traditionally, medical devices have provided treatment after an illness has occurred, taking a reactive approach. However, the future may focus more on proactive care, aiming to prevent illnesses before they happen.
Both cardiovascular disease and cancer have genetic components, which opens the door for innovative solutions. Advances in biological engineering, particularly through gene editing, could allow for early intervention to address diseases linked to genetic mutations or congenital conditions. This shift towards prevention could significantly improve patient outcomes and reshape how healthcare is delivered.
Smart Technology for Heart Patients
Dr. Albert Chin’s startup companies aim to simplify the design of their innovative medical devices while ensuring they remain functional. Achieving this balance often requires advanced technology, including improvements in materials, manufacturing techniques, sensors, electronic controls, and software development.
One example is the PercAssist cardiac assist balloon, designed for patients with heart failure. This device inflates with each heartbeat, triggered by the patient’s ECG signal. It aims to serve as a long-term implantable solution for end-stage heart failure patients who are not suitable candidates for heart transplantation. To ensure reliability, the balloon must endure over 40 million cycles of inflation and deflation within a year before replacement.
Initially, Dr. Chin used an inelastic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) balloon, which was found to be inadequate due to early ruptures. After testing, a partially elastic polyurethane material was identified, achieving 60 million cycles during manufacturing tests.
Additionally, the software controls for the cardiac assist balloon are designed to ensure proper function. The balloon inflates during the heart’s contraction phase (systole) based on the ECG signal, with an algorithm minimizing any delay between the signal and balloon inflation, accommodating heart rates of up to 130 beats per minute.
Integrating AI in Healthcare Devices
In Dr. Albert Chin’s organization, there is a strong focus on simplicity in the design and procedural techniques of novel devices, which makes them suitable for robotic-assisted approaches. By integrating advanced technologies, these devices can benefit from the analysis and modulation of large datasets of physiological parameters through artificial intelligence.
As new devices and therapies are introduced, they undergo rapid improvements based on initial clinical use and feedback from physicians. This process allows for the continuous evolution of the devices, incorporating advanced technologies into the original designs.
Leading by Example
Dr. Chin believes that the best way to encourage innovation within his company is to lead by example. He creates iterative prototype devices for all his designs to demonstrate their functionality and to establish proof of concept. Once he is satisfied with how the device performs through bench, in vitro, and in vivo testing, he prepares a detailed disclosure of the technology, including drawings, and shares it with his team.
The conversation about product improvements continues throughout the clinical trial and market release phases. By actively involving his team in the development process and encouraging open discussions, Dr. Chin provides an environment where new ideas can flourish and contribute to shaping the industry.
Top Three Challenges for Healthcare Leaders in the Medical Device Industry
- Selecting the Right Clinical Target: Leaders must identify suitable clinical conditions to focus on for device design.
- Ensuring Economic Feasibility: It is essential to provide device solutions that are financially viable for healthcare systems.
- Facilitating Timely Adoption: Leaders need to ensure that new techniques are adopted quickly by healthcare professionals.
Advice for Emerging Leaders
Dr. Albert Chin’s advice for emerging leaders in the healthcare sector is to focus on creating design solutions for clinical issues that have the highest rates of illness and death, especially those that currently lack effective treatments or have unsatisfactory approaches. By targeting these critical areas, they can make a meaningful impact and help improve patient outcomes in significant ways.
A Vision for Change
Dr. Chin’s long-term vision for his medical device startup companies is to create innovative devices and techniques that become the standard of care for addressing critical clinical needs. He hopes that the journey from research and development to initial clinical use, followed by regulatory approval and market release, will lead to swift adoption in clinical settings. Ultimately, this process aims to provide significant benefits to patients around the world, improving healthcare outcomes on a global scale.
An Open Letter to Aspiring Healthcare Innovators and Entrepreneurs
Dear Aspiring Innovators,
‘As a medical device innovator, it’s important to take a hands-on approach to design. Learn how to operate machine tools like lathes and milling machines so you can build prototype devices and quickly refine your designs. Focus on addressing critical clinical needs when developing your innovations, as effective device functionality is essential for a successful new therapeutic approach. By doing so, you can make a real difference in healthcare and improve patient outcomes.’
5 Key Takeaways from Dr. Chin’s Journey in the Healthcare Industry
- Focus on Big Problems: Albert Chin’s work shows that aiming to solve major health issues like heart disease and surgical complications can lead to inventions that significantly improve patient care and even become the standard way of doing things.
- Combine Skills for Innovation: Dr. Chin’s background in both engineering and surgery gave him a unique ability to understand medical needs and design practical solutions. This combination of different knowledge areas is powerful for creating new medical technology.
- Make it Easy to Use: A key to the success of Dr. Chin’s inventions is their simplicity. He understands that new medical devices and procedures need to be easy for doctors and other healthcare professionals to learn and use widely to truly benefit patients.
- Don’t Give Up on Improving: Dr. Chin’s journey involves constant testing, feedback, and improvement of his designs. He emphasizes the importance of creating prototypes and working closely with doctors to make sure the devices are safe and effective.
- Aim for Lasting Impact: Dr. Albert Chin’s ultimate goal is to create medical devices and techniques that become the accepted way of treating patients, improving their lives on a large scale. He encourages future innovators to focus on solutions that can make a real and lasting difference in healthcare.
