Clarion Research Group Taps into Prototyping Resources
BACKGROUND
Dr. James Rutkowski is a dentist and pharmacology researcher who recognized the need for improving the way blood draws are conducted. Avoiding multiple “sticks”; thereby saving time and reducing patient discomfort, his new “ VeinStay” product provides a more secure method of piercing a patient’s vein by pressing on the patient’s skin, making the veins more apparent and holding them in place for an easier and lower risk procedure. When the concept showed great promise in his own “in-house” use, he turned to the SBDC for assistance in commercializing the product.
SBDC ASSISTANCE
In 2007 Dr. Rutkowski began working with the business consultants at the Clarion SBDC where he received assistance in the areas of business planning, marketing and sales strategy, and consultation in capital acquisition. He was referred to the Engineering Development Services at Bucknell’s SBDC in May, 2007 by Cindy Nellis of Clarion when he expressed a need for physical samples of the new product idea for extended use in his own practice as well as for acquiring market feedback.
Bucknell SBDC student consultants, guided by a Project Manager from the EDS staff, conducted preliminary patent searching, concept development, engineering analysis, and 3D CAD modeling. Deliverables over the past year have included a proposed alternate concept design, a production & tooling cost estimate, and over one hundred rapid prototypes of two versions of the VeinStay produced on the Stratasys FDM system at Bucknell.
IMPACT
In June 2008, James won the Ben Franklin Technology Partners (BFTP) business plan contest for $25,000 and hopes to receive a further $10,000 from BFTP in support of continued research. James said that several modifications were made to the early prototypes delivered by Bucknell SBDC and that there is “no doubt that the VeinStay would not have come into existence without their Engineering Development Services”. He hopes to bring the product to market in the next 12 months after Clarion Hospital tentatively agreed to perform a clinical study on the efficacy of the device. James further added that he has saved between $10,000 to $15,000 on prototyping services as a result of Bucknell SBDC’s services.
This product will hopefully provide a cash flow that will allow CRG to grow and pursue the continued development of a “bone growth enhancing” product (which has a provisional patent in-place) and two other pharmaceutical products. And as he pursues bringing these products to market, the SBDC network will be there to help!
