Tech Firms Fill Eternal Demand for Health Care Products
San Diego Business Journal, June 1, 2009TECHNOLOGY: Devices Include Surgical and Visual Aid Tools, Speech-Recognition System
By MARK LARSON
Technology firms making medical devices in San Diego, across the country and globally these days are in a position other tech-developing firms envy. They’re selling products into the health care consumer industry. Unlike other markets, healthcare has remained bulletproof during the downturn, and continues to demand new products.
Last week, the Business Journal talked to three small, locally based technology development firms about their latest market-driven innovations, aimed at niches where they see demand.
Carlsbad-based DD Studio is a 25-year-old industrial design firm. With 20 employees, it specializes in developing commercializing technology for its clients in the wireless, medical, life sciences, consumer products and government/military industries.
“We focus heavily on medical devices and laboratory instruments,” says Michael Swartz, the company’s Director of Growth Strategy. Among the products the company is developing is a tool to help first-response emergency medical technicians better treat heart attack victims to increase their chances of survival. Another project involves new design for a family of spinal surgical tools.
“We conduct user research to identify key opportunities in usability and human factors,” says Swartz. Recent research programs include shadowing of EMT’s, interviewing hospital personnel, and observing surgeries to uncover new design opportunities.
Now there’s demand for making medical devices usable at home by consumers, he says, and not just by doctors. Our research efforts ensure that vital needs are met, improving the adoption rate and general success of the new product.
DD Studio builds prototypes of new products it develops on-site, adds Swartz, so that all the manufacturing bugs are worked out before a new product is sent to a contract manufacturer for mass production.
The company has eight new product releases set for this year, with another six to eight in its development pipeline. For the past 10 years it has had well-recognized clients such as Hewlett-Packard, satellite services provider Hughes Network Systems, and DirecTV. Another big client during the past four years has been IGT, the large manufacturer of gaming machines. Others include Qualcomm, Kyocera Wireless, Hoist Fitness Systems, Rockwell Collins, Avaak and Sony.
Last year, DD Studio posted $3.8 million in revenue, and this year is on track for $4 million, says Swartz, noting the company has been profitable for more than 10 years. He declined to specify profits…